Ilona Maher, the 28-year-old rugby star from the USA, is basking in glory since her Paris Olympics success. With her massive build and exceptional rugby skills, she helped her team win the first-ever medal at the Olympics, etching her name in history forever.

Ilona Maher started her rugby journey when she was 17. She later went on to play for Norwich University at collegiate levels. Her exceptional skills in her sports helped her team clinch three championships. Likewise, her talent helped her secure a spot in the Rugby 7 team headed for Paris, where she, along with her teammates, bagged the bronze medal.

However, beyond her rugby talents, the 5’10” athlete is also known for her playful personality and strong stance for body positivity. Likewise, she never shies away from taking up new and out-of-the-league challenges. Recently, she accepted an offer to appear in the 33rd edition of the hugely popular dance show, ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ She will compete alongside 12 other participants, including gymnastics breakout star Stephen Nedoroscik and 8x NBA all-star Dwight Howard.

However, dance is not her forte, and she recently revealed the reason why she accepted the offer to appear on a dance show. In a video she posted on Instagram, she accepted that she is nervous but looking forward to the show.

“I am very nervous. When I first got the call, I wanted to say no. I have never danced before. I think I took a ballet class at preschool, and that is it. My comfort zone is the rugby pitch. I know rugby, I love tackling, I know how to stiff arm and run. I understand it. Yet it felt hypocritical of me to not want to try something new that could show me why my body can do in a different way cuz I am always trying you guys, try rugby, try sports that’ll make you see what your body is capable of and that something that you just be something looked at and objectified.”

She went on to reveal that she is doing the show to carry forward her stance of body positivity. “I am doing it for a couple of reasons, first, hopefully I learn how to dance and can pull that out at weddings. Second, so many people feel like they have the right to comment on my body to comment on how they perceive me and on my muscular build and who I am. So this is me kind of taking back the narrative and showing you all through dance. I guess who I am and how I want to be portrayed,” she said.

Furthermore, she also asserted that female athletes, like anyone else, are capable of great things that are not their sports. She encouraged them to accept new challenges and be proud of themselves. “Um, this is again for female athletes that keep getting put in the box, keep getting stereotyped that we are more than just one thing than our sport and we can do so many great things with our strong, beautiful bodies. I am nervous. I don’t know if I’ll be able to dance. But I hope you all are proud of me for taking this step and hope you all watch and vote for me and Allan, and I am going to show you just how amazing we can be,” she exclaimed.

However, the Vermont native has always been a strong promoter of body positivity and a powerful voice for those who struggle with self-esteem issues.

Ilona Maher, a beacon of body positivity

Maher is a powerful advocate of body positivity and challenging stereotypes. Her participation in Dancing with the Stars is her latest platform to showcase that embracing one’s body and pushing boundaries is not only right but also empowering. Prior to taking to the dance floor, Ilona Maher, keeping with her ethos of body positivity, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine’s August issues. Her stunning photos in swimsuits by MYRA SWIM, HAUS OF PINK LEMONAID, garnered widespread applause from the fans.

However, beyond flaunting her look or showcasing her dancing skills, the rugby star has been shutting down gender biases and body shaming with witty comments, too. When one user online called her overweight, she wittingly replied, “I am considered overweight, but alas, I’m going to the Olympics, and you’re not.”. That’s just one example of her bold personality, and she repeatedly spreads her message of self-acceptance via her 6 million strong Instagram fan base.

Now, she is gearing up to rock the dance floor and use the platform to champion the idea of self-acceptance. With her fierce attitude and unyielding spirit, she can certainly dominate the Dancing with the Stars platform.