7 Facts You Need To Know About Superstar Ilona Maher
If you haven’t heard, rugby star Ilona Maher is making her way up the chains to the title of “It Girl.” As one of Sportsish’s biggest fans, this incredible athlete gives us every reason to celebrate her during Women’s History Month. Here is a list of seven things you need to know about our favorite gal; she deserves it.
1. Ilona attended Quinnipiac University.
Ilona Maher during her college days (Quinnipiac University)
Ilona Maher was truly a college athlete who could do it all. Attending Quinnipiac University from 2014 to 2017, this powerhouse had quite a collegiate career. Earning a nursing degree and a spot on the dean’s list, Ilona played rugby for the small Connecticut school and earned a spot on the inaugural collegiate rugby All-American team.
In her senior season at Quinnipiac, Ilona was voted Quinnipiac Female Athlete of the Year and was chosen as the Most Outstanding Player at the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association Championships. She led her team to three titles with the NIRA.
2. She modeled for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.
She’s tough, she’s an athlete, AND she’s a model? Ilona graced our Instagram feeds last August when she posted her cover photo for Sports Illustrated Swim. She cemented her name on the cover of this magazine, alongside many other powerful female athletes like Suni Lee, Gabby Thomas, and Cameron Brink. Ilona just might be our girl crush. Showing off her beauty and strength, she really is the definition of “Beast. Beauty. Brains.”
3. Ilona is a red lipstick queen.
Our queen wearing her signature bright shade (Getty Images)
The most iconic part of Ilona might be her bright red lipstick. Appearing in the Paris Olympics rocking her signature look, she has earned the name Lipstick Queen. With a viral TikTok addressing body-shaming and gender bias in sports, Ilona put all the haters to shame with her red lips and confidence. With this simple addition to her look, Maher tackled all clichés about women in sports.
If you want to purchase this exact lipstick to add to your makeup bag, look no further. Ilona uses the Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink, which is only ten bucks! Bringing femininity to a rather aggressive sport, we absolutely love this detail of Ilona.
4. Her sister invented “girl dinner.”
A cute sisters pic of the Maher girls (@ilonamaher/Instagram)
A fun fact you may not know is that Ilona’s sister Olivia was the creator behind the popular term “girl dinner.” We can thank Olivia for this iconic video that started it all. Aside from this viral moment, Ilona and her sisters Olivia and Adrianna are best friends, and we kinda want in on this sister club. Girl power upon girl power, the Maher girls know what’s up.
5. She is a two-time Olympian.
Ilona during the 2024 Paris Olympics (Getty Images)
Stunning in her first Olympic Games in 2020, Ilona was a part of the USA Women’s Rugby Sevens team. Although they placed 6th in Tokyo, Ilona made her name known and showed the world she was someone to watch out for. Fast forward four years later, Ilona was back on the world stage, competing for the U.S. in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Sharing her humor with fans on TikTok, Ilona put any hate to rest with this great comeback about her weight.
“So yeah, I do have a BMI of 30, I am considered overweight. But alas, I’m going to the Olympics—and you’re not.”
Carrying her team to the USA’s first Olympic bronze in women’s rugby sevens, Ilona scored tries in all three of the team's group-stage matches and led the team to their narrow defeat of Australia in the bronze medal match. We credit her for all the hype she brought to the sport. She is still in her prime at the age of 28, and we hope to see her in more Olympics to come.
6. Ilona was the runner-up on Dancing with the Stars.
Ilona and her dance partner Alan Bersten (Dancing with the Stars)
Not only can this girl tussle, but she can dance too. Ilona was cast in this past season of the hit show Dancing with the Stars and impressed everyone with her grace and musicality. Partnered with the very handsome pro, Alan Bersten, this duo hit it off and built a strong connection right out of the gate. Ilona ultimately placed second, coming up behind Bachelor star Joey Graziadei, but she was the winner of our hearts.
Ilona and Alan may have had the most memorable dances of the season. Here are a few of our favorites to watch.
Dedication Night: A rumba dedicated to her Olympic rugby team that brought us to tears
Disney Night: Ilona lifts Alan, who is dressed as a donkey…that's all you need to know
Finale Freestyle: We all know Ilona is and always will be a “femininomenon”
7. Ilona Maher = Adidas ‘It Girl’
Recently taking to Instagram to announce her partnership with sports brand Adidas, Ilona can really model for everyone. Using her iconic hashtag, #beastbeautybrains, Ilona stunned in a pink tracksuit with, of course, the lipstick to match. We cannot wait to see where this sponsorship takes Ilona. We will be cheering her on the whole way!