US rugby star Ilona Maher hailed as ‘feminist trailblazer’ for swimsuit shoot

Ilona Maher, the US women’s center who lit up the Paris Olympics and became the most followed rugby player in the world, was hailed as a “feminist trailblazer” after becoming a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model.

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“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,” said MJ Day, editor in chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, on Thursday.

“Ilona is a modern-day role model of strength, conviction and authenticity while at the same time displaying the indomitable spirit of an inspirational human. Her ability to break barriers, both on and off the field, resonates deeply with women everywhere.

“Ilona’s presence on our cover symbolizes a shift in the narrative – one that celebrates not only physical prowess but also the courage to lead, inspire and advocate for change. We couldn’t feel more excited and inspired by this revolutionary athlete and feminist trailblazer!”

Maher, whose 6m-plus social media followers have helped her spread a message of body positivity and the hashtag #beastbeautybrains, said: “I love that [rugby] showed me what I can do. It showed me how capable my body is and it’s not just like a tool to be looked at and objectified.”

Sports Illustrated heralded Maher, who stands 5ft 10in and weighs 200lbs, for being “prepared to dress bold, show some skin and flaunt her hard-earned muscles”, during her photoshoot at Fire Island, New York.

Related: Ilona Maher: how a US rugby sevens player became one of the biggest stars of the Games

Now 28, Maher took up rugby in her native Vermont and won three national championships with Quinnipiac University, from Connecticut. She has played sevens for the US Eagles since 2018, going to the Olympic Games in 2021 and 2024. Capped twice at 15-a-side, she recently announced plans to compete for selection for the Rugby World Cup in England next year.

Speaking on TikTok, Maher told followers: “This is rugby 15s, where what you were watching at the Olympics is rugby sevens. But that’s just so cool there’s so many forms of rugby for you to watch.

“I’ll try to be there. I’m going to try to make that team, see if they can use me somewhere on that field.”

Maher was prominent on social media before the Olympics but her performances in Paris – and posts in time away from the field – made as much of an 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] Jason Kelce her superfan?” and “America Has a Breakout Star of the Olympics – and She Plays Like an NFL Running Back”.

Alan Gilpin, chief executive of World Rugby, acknowledged Maher’s star power when he told AFP: “Ilona is without a doubt a superstar of these Games. Full stop. She is rugby’s most followed athlete, has a following that’s greater than most, if not all, of the household names in Paris, and attracted an extra 300,000 Instagram and 100,000 TikTok followers overnight.”

Back on US soil, Maher has been busy. Last week she celebrated her birthday by appearing on NBC’s flagship talk show, Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Asked how she got into rugby, Maher said: “So I’ve always been an athlete. You probably can tell by these shoulders. But my dad was a rugby player, played for like, 40-plus years now … he never got us into rugby, but I wanted to try.

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“My senior year of high school, I played in one game, and I think it just clicked for me, like it’s a sport that just really encourages you to be physical and show what your body’s capable of. Like, they want you to run as fast you can, they want you to tackle as hard as you can. I think that just really allowed me to express myself.”

Asked what effect her success might have in introducing Americans to her sport – before the US hosts Rugby World Cups in 2031 (men) and 2033 (women), Maher told Meyers it had been “fun to see … so many people tune into our last games [who] don’t even know what’s happening … don’t know what a ruck is, nobody knows what the scrum is. But to see people tune in and see like, wow, they should play a fun sport, it’s really awesome.

“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, by making me feel so good about myself, and I know it can do it for so many other girls. So I’m so happy they just got a taste for it, and maybe they’ll go to their local club, their local college, and try it out.”