Ilona Maher
Age: 27
Nationality: American
Sport: Rugby Sevens
Team: USA Women’s National Team (Eagles)
Position: Center / Forward
Maher apperead in the two most recent Olympic Games and was selected for the HSBC SVNS Dream Team in 2022 and 2023. With an 85% tackle rate, she is a force to be reckoned with. Equally lethal in attack, Maher’s signature sidesteps leave defenders grasping for air. While just entering her prime, she is amongst the USA all-time greats with her 60+ career tries.
Maher’s latest campaign with Adidas, ‘Beauty or the Beast’:
This campaign is special. My 8 year old self was told what she did not know she needed to hear; you can be both. The campaign encapsulated the duality of Maher, performing in cleats and glitter, scrum caps and sequins. It was really an answer to outdated labels. She redefines what it means to be feminine, paving the landscape for what it can look like to be a female in a male-dominated sport.
Her popularity really escalated during the 2024 Paris Olympics due to her comedic take on the Olympic village, or what she knew to be ‘Rugby Love Island’. While in ‘beauty mode’ she swapped pins with the most eligible bachelors, followed by multiple deliveries on the field in ‘beast mode’
Maher then took to the stage on Dancing with the Stars. She did both, and she did it well. On multiple occasions she blended her athleticism with artistry, competing with grace. Showcasing throughout the competition that ‘strong’ is not the opposite of ‘feminine.’
Ilona Mahers performance puts her up there with the greats but what makes her remarkable is her refreshing authenticity - crushing the box that female athletes are put in just seems like the cherry on top.
