Olympic Medalist Ilona Maher Inspires Young Girls Around The World
Olympic medalist, and now social media star, Ilona Maher has been consistently using her platform to uplift girls around the world. Speaking to those who have been told that they don’t fit into conventional femininity or beauty standards, Maher reminds them of their inner strength.
Despite being a powerhouse athlete and helping the US medal in rugby for the first time ever, Ilona Maher found herself subjected to unnecessary criticism.
Ilona Maher first entered the social media sphere in 2020 while documenting the behind-the-scenes atmosphere of the Tokyo Olympics. These videos, combined with her witty humor and charming personality, quickly grew her a loyal fanbase. This year, at the Paris Olympics, her impressive rugby performance and bubbly spirit made audiences around the world fall in love with her.
Despite being a powerhouse athlete and helping the US medal in rugby for the first time ever, Ilona Maher found herself subjected to unnecessary criticism. This was not founded in any aspect of her personality, character, or performance, but rather her appearance. Faced with comments calling her too tall, too muscular, too masculine, and not womanly enough, Ilona Maher quickly addressed the criticism she was receiving.
Ilona Maher first entered the social media sphere in 2020 while documenting the behind-the-scenes atmosphere of the Tokyo Olympics.
“I think the stereotype around a rugby player is this idea that you need to drop your femininity and play a very masculine, brutal sport,” Maher said in an interview with the Associated Press not even a day after medaling, donning her famous red lipstick. “Myself and my team and some others on the circuit like Australia and Ireland, are showing that femininity. We are doing our makeup before games, wearing makeup, wanting to feel pretty out there.”
Ilona concludes the interview by saying, “But that doesn’t take away from how amazing we tackle and hit and run. You can be those things, and the stereotypes around women’s sports just should be thrown out the window now.”
I grew up playing competitive soccer, and like Ilona Maher, I didn’t have a “feminine” build like my friends at school. I wore my jersey to classes and, slicked back my hair in a tight ponytail, dirty sneakers with untied laces on my feet. The other girls at school walked around in jeans with bedazzled pockets, vanilla body spray trailing behind them with their long glossy hair, and walked with crushes that liked them back.
For those who want to keep up with Ilona Maher or for readers who are hearing her name for the first time, go check out her TikTok or Instagram, where she frequently uploads content.
My social media feeds didn’t help my insecurities either; no one had a broad back like me, and no one had a stocky frame and muscular thighs that would never touch. No one talked about being laughed at when their BMI was read aloud in PE and the subsequent humiliation of changing in the locker room afterward. I felt alien and detached from femininity; I so badly wanted to be seen as a girl but people preferred seeing me as a tomboy. No one told me I could be both.
I wish so badly I could have grown up with someone like Ilona Maher to look up to. Someone who is authentically themselves and not afraid to talk about the self-doubt they faced growing up as a girl. Even now, in my 20s, seeing her flatten opponents while wearing bright lipstick brings joy to my heart and helps that little insecure girl inside me heal. I’m so grateful that this new generation of young girls will grow up alongside her encouraging words.
For those who want to keep up with Ilona Maher or for readers who are hearing her name for the first time, go check out her TikTok or Instagram, where she frequently uploads content. Also, make sure to check out her Dancing with the Stars debut, airing on September 17 on ABC and Disney+. Good luck, Ilona! We can’t wait to see what you do next.
Source: AP News
