What do you envision when you hear “rugby player”? Most likely, a big, burly fellow, perhaps from one of the Six Nations or similar, maybe in some lovely tight shorts. Probably not a woman. Not an American. What has the world come to?
Yet, in the last year, 28-year-old Ilona Maher has transformed herself into one of the most recognizable sporting stars in the world. This is helped by the likes of her constant social media presence; in 2024, she generated more TikTok views than Taylor Swift and became the most followed rugby player on Instagram; her TV appearances on shows such as Dancing with the Stars, where she became the first female contestant to lift her male partner; and, of course, winning bronze in the Paris Summer Olympics, the US’s first medal in rugby.
She is known for being outspokenly body-positive, encouraging girls to realise they can be both beauty and the beast, and, most importantly, always unapologetically themselves. The “Ilona Maher Effect” has even managed to seep its way into British soil, as her transfer to the Bristol Bears in late 2024 caused a stadium upgrade to accommodate an unprecedented crowd of 9,240 in their debut match against Gloucester-Hartpury, despite Maher only playing twenty minutes as a substitute. Her surge in popularity could also indicate yet another shift in favour of the popularity of women’s sports, much like we saw with The Lionesses. Maher then stayed another 90 minutes after the game to talk to fans and take photographs. Her charm lies in her seeming honesty, tenacity, and candid wit, and we simply cannot get enough.
There was a recent uproar after an interview with a CNN anchor, who asked how she dealt with “imposter syndrome.” Maher calmly yet assertively retorted, “I don’t have that.” When pressed by the interviewer, she explained how she believes she deserves everything she has achieved, as she has been working towards it her entire life: “It’s okay to be proud of what you’ve done.” She has since made statements about the role gender plays when she is asked these kinds of questions: “You think they’re asking NFL players, male politicians if they have imposter syndrome? Probably not.” Maher has always played sports and has been recognized by awards such as the MA Sorensen Award, given to the nation’s top collegiate women’s rugby player, in 2017, and Most Outstanding Player at the NIRA Championships in 2018. Her achievements and current fame are not an overnight phenomenon, but rather a testament to diligence and conviction.
Similarly, her confidence should never be mistaken for arrogance. She has proclaimed that she is not by far the greatest rugby player to ever exist. Yet, it is undeniable that, at this moment in time, she is the biggest rugby star in the world.
Illustration by Amealia Wharmby