Ilona Maher, the American women’s center who brightened up the Paris Olympics and the most followed rugby player in the world, was hailed as a “feminist pioneer” after becoming a swimsuit model for Sports Illustrated.
“Having Ilona Maher grace the cover of our September digital issue is more than just a celebration of her athletic achievements – it’s a powerful statement,” said MJ Day, editor-in-chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, on Thursday.
“Ilona is a modern role model of strength, conviction and authenticity, while at the same time displaying the indomitable spirit of an inspiring human being. Her ability to break down barriers, both on and off the pitch, speaks deeply to women everywhere.
“Ilona’s presence on our cover symbolizes a shift in the narrative – one that celebrates not only physical prowess, but the courage to lead, inspire, and advocate for change. We couldn’t be more excited and inspired by this revolutionary athlete and feminist pioneer!”
American rugby player and Olympic bronze medalist Ilona Maher is the cover model for SI Swimsuit’s September digital issue. https://t.co/1oUGMaInMd
— Sports Illustrated Swimsuit (@SI_Swimsuit) August 28, 2024
Maher, whose more than 6 million social media followers have helped her spread a message of body positivity and the hashtag #beastbeautybrains, said: “I think it’s great that [rugby] showed me what I can do. It showed me how capable my body is and that it’s not just an instrument to look at and objectify.”
Sports Illustrated praised Maher, who is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, for being “willing to dress boldly, show some skin and flaunt her hard-won muscles” during her photoshoot on Fire Island, New York.
Maher, now 28, started playing rugby in her native Vermont and won three national championships with Quinnipiac Universityfrom Connecticut. She has played sevens for the US Eagles since 2018 and will go to the Olympics in 2021 and 2024. She played for 15-a-side twice and recently announced plans to compete for selection for the Rugby World Cup in England next year.
Speak on TikTokMaher told his followers: “This is rugby 15s, whereas what you saw at the Olympics was rugby sevens. But that’s just so cool, there’s so many forms of rugby to watch.
“I’ll try to be there. I’ll try to get into that team, see if they can use me somewhere on that field.”
Maher was a prominent presence on social media before the Olympics, but her performances in Paris – and the posts she made off the field – had at least as much impact as her team’s dramatic run to a bronze medal.
Back in the US, headlines included “Who is Ilona Maher and why is [ex-NFL star] “Is Jason Kelce her superfan?” And “America has a breakout star from the Olympics – and she plays like an NFL running back.”
World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin acknowledged Maher’s star status when he told AFP: “Ilona is without a doubt a superstar of these Games. Period. She is the most followed athlete in rugby, has a following bigger than most, if not all, of the household names in Paris, and attracted an extra 300,000 Instagram followers and 100,000 TikTok followers overnight.”
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Back on American soil, Maher has been busy. Last week, she celebrated her birthday by appearing on NBC’s flagship talk show, Late Night with Seth Meyers.
When asked how she got into rugby, Maher said said: “I’ve always been an athlete. You can probably see that in these shoulders. But my father was a rugby player, played for over 40 years… he never got us used to rugby, but I wanted to try it.
“My senior year of high school, I played in one game and I think it just clicked with me, like it’s a sport that really encourages you to be physical and show what your body can do. They want you to run as fast as you can, they want you to tackle as hard as you can. I think that really gave me the opportunity to express myself.”
When asked what effect her success might have on introducing Americans to her sport – before the U.S. hosts the Rugby World Cup tournaments in 2031 (men) and 2033 (women) – Maher Meyers said it was “nice to see … so many people watching our last few games [who] don’t even know what’s going on…don’t know what a ruck is, nobody knows what a scrum is. But to see people tuning in and thinking, wow, they should be playing a fun sport, it’s really great.
“Because we want to get people into sports. Because I know what it’s done for me and how it’s changed my body confidence, making me feel so good about myself, and I know it can do that for so many other girls. So I’m so happy that they’ve just got a taste of it, and maybe they’ll go to their local club, their local college, and give it a go.”