Ilona Maher, a rugby player who shot to fame during the Paris Olympics, has been using her massive social media following to spread the message of body positivity. Maher has been vocal about her experience of being a high-profile woman in sports and has urged girls to be gentle and to love their bodies and give them grace on days they find it tough to do so. She signed a three-month deal with the Bristol Bears in December 2021 and some hope this move could boost the sport’s profile. Even though Maher only played for twenty minutes as a substitute, her debut match last weekend drew a record crowd for the team, which relocated the fixture to a bigger venue.
Maher’s message of body positivity has won her many fans, including aspiring rugby players, Zara and Millie. Zara and Millie have been playing for North Bristol Rugby Club since they turned 12 since there’s a lack of more local girls’ teams. Maher’s message resonates with them the most because she shows the beauty in being tall, muscly, and powerful, which go against the standard view that it is masculine.
Rugby union journalist and author, Jessica Hayden, believes Maher’s authenticity has made her message of body positivity cut through campaigns that were carried in the past to promote body confidence. Hayden says that people want to understand who the athlete is, and her message resonates with young girls who view their bodies differently since being influenced by Maher’s views. Maher’s debut has had a massive effect on Bristol Bears, drawing record-breaking numbers to a showpiece event.
Maher’s signing to Bristol on a three-month deal presents an excellent opportunity to create more of a platform for women’s rugby. With this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup being held in England and plans to boost female participation in the sport, there is optimism that this could be “our Lionesses moment” akin to the success story of England’s women’s football team. Maher has said that she is “ready for more” and hopes to be more than an influencer, but a positive impact on women’s rugby
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
