Amassing a huge following on social media since the Tokyo Games a few years ago, Olympic Rugby player Ilona Maher now counts among her fanbase 1.4 million on Instagram and 1.6 million more on TikTok — a combined audience that blows past more well-known US Olympics stars like Noah Lyles or Katie Ledecky. And in just the few days since the Paris Games opened, those numbers have only continued to climb.
And it’s no surprise – she’s a natural at the posting game, who shares clips with the hilarious attitude and honesty of a close friend. A real girl’s girl! One of her most recent clips posted during last week’s Opening Ceremony in Paris highlights a topic she champions consistently in her online, healthy perceptions of body image. “All body types matter,” she says in the clip, which has now been viewed over 6.4 million times on Instagram, and 4.2 million times on TikTok. “All body types are worthy. From the smallest gymnast to the tallest volleyball player, from a rugby player to a shot-putter, a sprinter. All body types are beautiful, can do amazing things. Truly see yourself in these athletes and know that you can do it too.”
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And before the Games began, back in early July, the Rugby star set the record straight on BMI, after a user tried to roast her for suggesting she might have a BMI over 30. Maher clapped back saying she talked with her dietitian about BMI and “how it really isn't helpful for athletes.” “[My] BMI doesn’t really tell you what I can do. It doesn’t tell you what I do on the field, how fit I am, it’s just a couple numbers put together,” she said.
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She also has plenty of fun with her internet platform as she makes her way through the olympic games, posting instant-viral clips like a Love Island inspired post about finding love and becoming a hot new bombshell entering “the Villa”, taking selfies with Snoop, and doing stress tests on those Olympic Village cardboard beds — with breakdancing routines and the 2013 “Grind on Me” choreo.
But make no mistake, she’s as much of a force on the field, making one of the biggest highlights of the US match against Japan, shoving off a defender in a 36-7 winning game. Later, she joined the team in another win, 24-5, over Brazil that took the team to 2-0 in the pool and secured their place in Monday’s quarter finals.
The move drew the attention of former Philadelphia Eagles center, Jason Kelce, where Maher successfully enlisted him as a new superfan of the US Women's Rugby team at the Olympics. Of course, the video already has over 3 million views. Sadly for rugby fans, their tournament ends on Tuesday, with the placement rounds and medals events— but for Maher fans, we’ll get to watch almost two weeks of Maher and her teammates causing a ruckus at the Olympic Village.
