“The mirrorball won’t be so much for me,” Ilona Maher said calmly to the camera moments before her freestyle performance on the final night of Dancing with the Stars last season. It was an unexpected remark—perhaps even a little puzzling—coming from someone competing in the grand finale. After all, wasn’t the entire point to win the glittering trophy? If she wasn’t aiming for victory, why step onto that stage at all? Ilona had the answer!

“I think it’ll be for all the girls who’ve been told they’re too big or they’re too muscular and they’re not pretty.” The Olympian’s words cut through the superficiality of the competition and revealed her true purpose: She wasn’t there for the trophy—she was there to shatter stereotypes. She was there for the women who had been dismissed, mocked, or made to feel less simply because they didn’t fit the narrow mold of traditional beauty. And she had more than just words to prove her point.

For her freestyle performance, Ilona chose to dance to “Femininomenon” by District 78 ft. Mona Ruesaid—a bold, defiant anthem of self-love and empowerment. When asked why she selected this song, her response was clear: “For all the girls who see themselves in me.” The “me” Ilona spoke of was a woman who had spent years enduring snide remarks and sideways glances about her athletic, powerful frame. But instead of shrinking under the weight of those judgments, she decided to dance right through them. Her performance was more than a routine—it was a statement. A celebration of strength, beauty, and the right to define femininity on her own terms. And recently, Ilona had even more to say on the matter.

For Ilona Maher, her Dancing with the Stars journey wasn’t just about nailing the steps—it was about making a statement. A bold one. In a recent interview with Marie Claire, she revealed just how intentional she was about her appearance and outfits on the show. “I literally told the stylist I wanted to be as n**** as possible,” she confessed with a laugh. It wasn’t just a playful remark—it was a challenge to the subtle but ever-present double standard that often plagues women with bigger, stronger bodies. She went on to explain how, during the wardrobe process, she felt slightly covered up.

“I felt like they thought a bigger girl might want something more modest,” she said. “And I was like, ‘Nope! If the 100-pound girl is n****, I want to be n****. Less fabric!’” The rugby player’s words were defiant, raw, and refreshingly unapologetic. After all, Ilona wasn’t about to be hidden behind layers of fabric simply because her body didn’t fit the world’s narrow definition of ‘perfect body.’ She wanted to celebrate her figure—boldly, proudly, and without compromise. Through her daring costume choices and unfiltered honesty, Ilona turned her time on DWTS into more than just a dance competition—it became a full-fledged campaign for body positivity.

“It was like something you’d see on a more quintessential dancer’s body, and I loved that it worked on me,” Ilona Maher said, beaming with pride. “I love that people also loved seeing it—showing full leg and more body.” And people loved seeing her embrace herself. Case in point: her bedazzling DWTS rhumba leotard, paired with sheer tights and heels, currently has 5.2 million views on TikTok. The message? Loud and clear: Strong, athletic bodies belong in the spotlight, too. Meanwhile, what Ilona finds most satisfying is the shift in conversation. No longer is the focus on her physique or whether she “belongs” in the dance world. Instead, people are talking about her show-stopping costumes, her presence, her power.

But turning heads with daring outfits is just one of the ways Ilona is disrupting the old system. Her fight against outdated stereotypes goes far beyond the dance floor—and she’s only getting started!

Ilona Maher keeps her defiant form intact 

“The abuse is constant… I don’t think it will ever stop.” Those were Ilona Maher’s raw and unfiltered words on March 20. The US rugby star had just wrapped up a three-month stint with the Bristol Bears, leaving an undeniable mark both on and off the field. Because of her, the Bears didn’t just gain a powerhouse forward—they gained a phenomenon.

Attendance at Bristol Bears’ matches surged. The stands, once spotted with empty seats, were suddenly packed with eager faces. Foot traffic flooded the stadium. And there was a noticeable shift: More women were coming to the games—drawn in by Maher’s presence, her passion, and her unapologetic authenticity. But not everyone was thrilled by her success.

Some critics took issue with Ilona’s decision to play 15s instead of sticking to 7s, the format where she had previously built her reputation. The backlash came swiftly. Online criticism. Sneering comments. Endless noise. But does any of it actually bother her?

Not even close. Because while the critics were busy tweeting, Ilona was tackling, rucking, and driving through defenders. And when she wasn’t doing that? She was empowering female athletes, promoting body positivity, and inspiring a new generation of rugby fans. “What’s so great is that I play a sport with amazing women who know and make me feel good about myself. I have friends and family around me,” the Olympian said. The hate doesn’t faze her because she’s surrounded by people who remind her why she plays in the first place. Yes, rugby can be brutal. Yes, the hate is constant. But her resilience is louder. Ilona Maher isn’t just making headlines for her gameplay—she’s changing the face of the sport.