Rugby star Ilona Maher STUNS with Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover after Paris Olympics medal
Rugby sensation Ilona Maher achieved her lifelong goal of being on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover after Paris Olympics campaign.
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Ilona Maher (image via The Sun)
At the Paris Olympics, Ilona Maher achieved what most people’s dreams are made of. The US athlete led the rugby team to its first-ever bronze medal in dramatic fashion. Now, she has achieved another milestone, featuring as cover of the Sports Illustrated magazine.
Ilona Maher recently announced on Instagram that she will be on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s digital September issue. After the Olympic games, she got a whirlwind of fame. Being a victim of patriarchy, Maher has been a rebel against female stereotypes and an advocate for equal rights for women through her social media.
She opened up to Sports Illustrated and revealed that the gender parity in sports in terms of wage is a huge wall. Despite her level of fame, she proceeds to work to run her house while the male athletes, particularly in rugby, enjoy a financial advantage.
In a statement by the editor-in-chief of Sports Illustrated, they emphasized that this cover celebrated more than just Ilona Maher’s athletic achievements. Their broader intent was to showcase strength, conviction, and authenticity, qualities that Maher embodies as a role model. They further highlighted that her efforts to break barriers both on and off the field are deeply relatable and inspirational to women worldwide.
Maher hit headlines after her successful campaign at the Paris Olympics. However, she worked hard to attain that goal. Maher took to rugby at her father’s behest when she was 17. Sooner than one knew, she became the top college rugby player in the country. Now, she is the most followed rugby player in the world on Instagram.
Ilona Maher has been preparing to be Sports Illustrated model for years
Back in 2022, Ilona Maher shared on TikTok that her lifelong goal was to be a Sports Illustrated model. Not just that, she campaigned for the issue long back when she denoted why she should be the model for Sports Illustrated in the video.
Ilona Maher pinned down that she was resilient to inspire others to appreciate their body and find beauty in themselves. She further explained her defiance of the societal expectations and gender roles. Well, Sports Illustrated might have just heard her as she delivered the news to her Instagram followers in classic Maher manner.
Besides sports, Ilona Maher has conquered the field of social media as well. She is popular among her followers for posting hilarious, relatable and inspiring content. Her massive following of more than six million followers across social platforms would agree. Cherry on the cake is that she does all this while being a full-time athlete.
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Lakshita Kalra
(323 Articles Published)