Whether on the rugby pitch, in the ballroom, or on the cover of Sports Illustrated, Ilona Maher is an inspiration to young girls everywhere. Maher was born on August 12, 1996, in Vermont. Her rugby career began in high school and continued at Quinnipiac University where she won three NIRA championships. Maher started gaining popularity during the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, where she helped to bring home the first-ever medal for Rugby 7’s. Rugby 7’s is a style of rugby where 7 players are on the field for two 7-minute halves. It is a fairly new addition to the Summer Olympics being first added at the Rio 2016 games. This year the women’s Olympic team made history when they won bronze, as it was the first Olympic medal in the event for both men and women. During the games Ilona Maher documented her experience on TikTok, where she gained 2 million followers, using the hashtag “#beastbeautybrains.” 

          She continues to use her platform to inspire young girls, those who play rugby and those who don’t, and show them they can be whoever they want to be. On the rugby pitch, Maher wears bright red lipstick, to break down the stereotype that rugby is a sport just for men. In an interview with People Magazine Maher spoke more about why she chooses to wear such a bold look while playing, “We’re wearing makeup because we want to wear it and it makes us feel good, and I think we’re showing that it doesn’t take away from how we play on the field, my lipstick doesn’t take away from how hard I hit, from how I read the game, from how I run.” Maher is an ambassador of the charity “ChildFund Rugby,” which works to give underprivileged children the opportunity to explore new sports, including rugby, that are proven to help with the development of the mind and body. With the recent bronze win at the Olympics, women’s rugby has been gaining more popularity and Ilona Maher has been able to inspire even more people.

          Along with breaking down stereotypes for women’s rugby, Maher is also a strong advocate for body positivity. As an athlete in such a physically demanding sport, Maher can appreciate her body for what it can do for her, even if she looks different than the “normal” beauty standards. Maher shattered these standards when she modeled for the cover of Sports Illustrated. Her edition of the magazine showed that all body types are beautiful, even if it’s not the type you’re used to seeing on the cover of a swimsuit magazine. 

          Most recently, Ilona Maher is featured in the cast of season 33 of Dancing with the Stars. She decided to join the show to show that along with the strength it takes to play rugby, she is also graceful and can be a dancer. Throughout the season so far, Maher has commented on the fact that although it may not come easily, she won’t give up. The message she is bringing through her dances is that beauty and grace go hand in hand with strength. Maher is climbing her way up the leaderboard every week, showing her determination and the extreme effort she is putting in.