Beast. Beauty. Brains: Ilona Maher is the Voice We Should All Be Listening To

Let’s face it: we live in a culture that constantly pushes the narrative that women are “too much.”

Too loud. Too big. Too full of ourselves. 

The latest trend for women is to shrink themselves as much as humanly possible. Between unrealistic standards set on red carpets and social media pages, to ads for weight loss drugs inundating every form of media–it’s difficult for women and young girls to feel like there’s any opportunity for a win, which is precisely why we need a superhero.

In a world where women are being told to make themselves smaller, USA Rugby Olympic medalist Ilona Maher is boosting confidence in a way that promotes strength, not shrinkage.

Ilona Maher is no stranger to the current body trends in media–between emaciated celebrities walking red carpets to the inundation of weight loss drug ads everywhere we look, it’s difficult not to fall victim to harmful body image stereotypes.

“It’s okay if you’re having these thoughts. “I think we just have to change the dialogue… It is hard to see all of that information constantly floating through your brain, saying “this is the right way to look,” says Maher in a Tiktok post, “For me, I’m doing what’s best to feel the best in myself, and that is to eat right, and to lift weights and be strong. Let’s all strive for that.”

To see not just a successful athlete–but a world-renowned competitor and an Olympian admit to feeling human (despite her borderline-superhuman strengths) is a perfect reminder that while occasional self-consciousness is normal, the current “trends” that are perforating our screens are not–and more importantly, that it is possible to rewrite the narrative.

Maher is the human embodiment of pushing boundaries–and not just as an athlete on a global scale. When not medaling for the United States in rugby, Maher can be found waltzing on the dancefloor on Dancing With the Stars.

In another post, Maher calls her time on the show “one of the best experiences of my life,” making it all the way to the finale with her partner, Alan Bersten. While she didn’t walk out with the mirrorball trophy, she says dancing “...Taught me that it’s okay to maybe not be the best at everything, but it’s also good to try out things to see what you like to test your body,” according to People Magazine.

Pushing the limits doesn’t just stop at physicality, though. Ilona Maher is also a model for Sports Illustrated, walking the runway during Miami Swim Week, or gracing the cover of the magazine itself—proving that being strong does not negate being beautiful.

 “Remember that girl you saw,” asks Maher, referring to her younger self, “Well here she is now. She’s a two-time Olympian, Olympic Medalist, Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, and all-around hottie.” Maher admits that while she used to be concerned about how she looked compared to the people around her, she acknowledges that bodies change and that confidence takes time to build.

The source of that confidence is her relationship with rugby. “I was always, like, you know, called masculine or whatever,” says Maher for Sports Illustrated, “But I never felt that way. 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.Regardless of if you’re familiar with Ilona Maher from her athletic career, her social media, her iconic runway walks and photoshoots, her time as a ballroom dancer, or, yes—even her Barbie figure– the world simply cannot deny that she is living proof that every woman can, actually, have it all–and not have to sacrifice any part of themselves to get it.

Interested in furthering the conversation in Body Confident Sport? Robyn Athletic is teaming up to empower the next generation of female athletes through high performance gear & education.

This Robyn Playbook piece was written by Claire Portele. Claire is a Nashville-based writer and content creator with backgrounds in PR, digital storytelling, and brand activation. She specializes in music, press releases, artist bios, and culture-driven content, with an emphasis on connecting audiences through long and short-form pieces.

Growing up in a military family, she found friendship, confidence, and community through swimming and lacrosse. Today, she credits sports with shaping the resilience that continues to define her.