Olympian and influencer Ilona Maher is currently enjoying celebrity status as rugby’s hottest new star. She mesmerizes fans with both her outrageous athleticism and her magnetic presence. Recently finishing as a runner-up on “Dancing with the Stars,” Maher has solidified her status as a multifaceted star in American sports. With a remarkable social media presence, boasting 4.9 million Instagram followers—the highest of any active rugby player—she is drawing new fans to the sport, making rugby more accessible and appealing.
Maher currently boasts over 3.5 million followers on TikTok alone. She uses her platform to advance her sport and uplift those around her with her own personal mantra, “Beast.” Her following easily dwarfs famous rugby players. That’s with French superstar Antoine Dupont and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, whose combined social media reach is a mere 2.6 million. Maher’s influence doesn’t stop there. Indeed, she has more followers than all the players on the England rugby squad and the Aussie Wallabies put together.
The American athlete’s impact on the sport is deep. Maher recently made headlines by becoming the first woman to lift her partner during a dance on “Dancing with the Stars,” showcasing her strength and challenging traditional gender norms within athletics. Her story sends a beautiful reminder that self-love is the greatest form of beauty. Through her own actions, she inspires her audience to be comfortable in their own skin.
Maher’s success on the small screen has been extraordinary. Most recently, she made her debut for Team USA in rugby sevens and won a bronze medal defeating Australia in Paris. She has now made the switch to the 15s code. Fans can’t wait to see her and even more so, can’t wait to see her in matches like the coming Wallaroos tussle.
“The more we can get ourselves out there and show that we’re humans first and athletes second, it’s something that definitely appeals,” – Tabua Tuinakauvadra
Maher’s approach to sports upends notions of sexuality, femininity, and domesticity for female athletes. To that end, she’s never shied away from sharing her anger about women being forced to choose between being feminine and being athletic.
“I’ve always just found that, being put in that box of being a rugby player, you have to be big and masculine … I’ve never liked that I was told to be this certain way when I played sport,” – Ilona Maher
Her perspective resonates with many aspiring female athletes who feel pressured to conform to traditional norms of strength and appearance in sports.
“It’s us taking back our own narrative and saying, like, an ‘f you’ to those who think that we have to leave our beauty and femininity at the door when we play this tough sport,” – Ilona Maher
Maher’s charisma, evident in spades on the field, works wonders outside of it. Her tireless outreach on social media has introduced her message to new audiences as she continues inspiring women to take back their power as sports fandom.
“Can we now get more women buying our jerseys and coming to our games? Women have power, women have influence and they’re a good fanbase to have,” – Ilona Maher
Her teammate, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, reiterates Maher’s importance to the team, on and off the field.
“She’s got such a great reach, she’s such a personality off the field,” – Tabua Tuinakauvadra
In short, Maher is making waves in rugby and in mainstream American culture. Through it all, she never loses sight of her mission to raise the profile of women’s sports. Going forward, she is building a room of her own. Even as she pursues her own dreams, she is opening doors for the next generation of female athletes.
