Olympic rugby star Ilona Maher on Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover: ‘Strength is beautiful’
She’s winning a gold medal for this cover.
Rugby player Ilona Maher became one of the most talked-about stars of the 2024 Paris Olympics when she led the US women’s team to its first bronze medal at the Games — and now she’s celebrating by appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s September digital issue.
The 28-year-old Olympian wears an asymmetrical brown Myra Swim Top ($120) and matching Brazilian Cut Bottoms ($110) as she poses on a dock in the stunning cover, which was shot by Ben Watts in Bellport, New York.
“When we say #beastbeautybrains this is what we mean,” the magazine captioned its Instagram post on Wednesday, citing Maher’s personal motto.
SI Swimsuit added that the rugby star is “breaking the stereotype of what it means to be a female athlete.”
She showed off her curvy physique by wearing a number of bikinis and one-pieces for the photoshoot, and according to the magazine, one of her bikinis paid homage to her bronze medalist status.
The Vermont native — who received support from retired NFL star Jason Kelce during the Games — wore a shiny metallic Monday Swimwear top ($112 $84) and matching bottoms ($84)$80 The coin (60 dollars) was in the same color as his Olympic medal, symbolizing his success at the Summer Olympics.
In the SI Swimsuit interview, Maher explained that even though he was “called manly or whatever” growing up, he “never felt like one,” adding, “But I don’t think you would bully a girl who might get angry and beat you up.”
She also said that “sports are very helpful” when it comes to body image, sharing, “If my cellulite was below that ideal range, I wouldn’t be able to do what I can do.”
Fans are overwhelmed with praise for the latest SI cover girl, as one wrote, “Thank you for showing our girls that beauty is power and power is beauty!!”
“I wish this cover was around when I was a teenager!!” Another added: “My life would be so different.”
“Yes 🔥🔥🔥,” Alix Earl added, while gymnast Aly Raisman wrote, “Congrats!!!! Amazing ❤️”
At the end of the day, Maher told SI Swimsuit that rugby gave her confidence, saying, “It showed me how capable my body is and that it’s not just a tool to be looked at and objectified.”
