Ilona Maher gets it Sports Illustrated title moment.
The Olympic rugby player, 28, has officially debuted her own digital cover Sports Illustrated Swimsuitmarking what editor-in-chief MJ Day calls “a shift in narrative.”
“Ilona’s presence on our cover symbolizes a shift in the story—one that celebrates not just physical strength, but the courage to lead, inspire and advocate for change,” Day says in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit September digital edition, powered by Maybelline. “We couldn’t be more excited and inspired by this revolutionary athlete and feminist pioneer!”
Day also shared, “Ilona Maher gracing the cover of our September digital issue is more than just a celebration of her athletic achievements—it’s a powerful statement. Ilona is a contemporary role model of strength, conviction and authenticity, while at the same time demonstrating the indomitable spirit of an inspirational human being. Her ability to break barriers, on and off the field, resonates deeply with women everywhere.”
Ilona Maher for Sports Illustrated.
Sports Illustrated/Ben Watts
Olympian Ilona Maher’s Body Positive Message to 9-Year-Old Fan Goes Viral (Exclusive)
In the stunning photos — shot by Ben Watts on Fire Island Beach in Bellport, New York — Maher shows off her toned physique in a variety of swimwear, including a chocolate brown bikini.
As a social media sensation, the athlete has been an outspoken advocate for women in sports and continues to oppose stereotypes of female athletes.
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“I was always, you know, called manly or whatever,” says Maher SI. “But I’ve never felt that way. But I don’t think you’re going to bully a girl who could probably beat you up in a rage. I love that [rugby] he showed me what I could do. It showed me how capable my body is and that it’s not just a tool to be looked at and objectified.”
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Ilona Maher for Sports Illustrated.
Sports Illustrated/Ben Watts
Maher, who led Team USA to its first Olympic bronze medal in rugby sevens at the Paris Games earlier this summer, also spoke with SI about the salary difference between male and female rugby players.
“[Men] they’re playing rugby and getting paid millions of dollars while we’re making minimum wage and this isn’t going to be a career for us,” she says. “I’ve got teammates working now, while these guys down there are rugby players it [for them].”
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With more than 2 million followers on TikTok, Maher says her viral online persona is authentic to who she is.
“It’s very out of the box. It’s kind of like my teammates say I tell my jokes twice — once to them and then once to the world, so it’s just a riff,” she told PEOPLE at the Team USA home in Paris on July 31. “Whatever I am online is how I am in real life. [My teammates] they keep me grounded, they keep me sane.”
“They tell me what’s right and what’s wrong, so they’re just the best,” she said of her teammates.
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Source: HIS Education