Ilona Maher Strips Down for “Sports Illustrated Swimsuit”: 'I Was Always Called Masculine, But Never Felt That Way'

The Olympic rugby player told SI Swim that her sport "showed me how capable my body is"

Ilona Maher is getting her Sports Illustrated cover moment.

The Olympic rugby player, 28, has officially made her debut with her own digital cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, marking what editor-in-chief MJ Day calls "a shift in the narrative."

"Ilona's presence on our cover symbolizes a shift in the narrative — one that celebrates not only physical prowess but also the courage to lead, inspire, and advocate for change," Day says in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit’s September Digital Issue, empowered by Maybelline. "We couldn't feel more excited and inspired by this revolutionary athlete and feminist trailblazer!”

Day also shared: "Ilona Maher gracing the cover of our September digital issue is more than just a celebration of her athletic achievements—it's a powerful statement. Ilona is a modern-day role model of strength, conviction and authenticity while at the same time displaying the indomitable spirit of an inspirational human. Her ability to break barriers, both on and off the field, resonates deeply with women everywhere."

Related: Olympian Ilona Maher’s Message About Body Positivity to 9-Year-Old Fan Goes Viral (Exclusive)

In the stunning photos — taken by Ben Watts on Fire Island Beach in Bellport, New York — Maher shows off her toned physique in a variety of swimwear, including a chocolate brown bikini.

A social media sensation, the athlete has been an outspoken advocate for women in sports and continues to push back against stereotypes of female athletes.

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“I was always like, you know, called masculine or whatever," Maher tells SI. "But I never felt that way. But I don't think you're going to bully the girl who could probably beat you up in a rage. I love that [rugby] showed me what I can do. It showed me how capable my body is and it's not just like a tool to be looked at and objectified.”

Maher, who earlier this summer led Team USA to its first bronze Olympic medal in rugby sevens at the Paris games, also spoke to SI about the salary disparity between male and female rugby players.

“[Men] get to play rugby and they get paid millions of dollars while we make minimum wage and this won't be a career for us," she says. "I have teammates going into the workforce now, whereas these guys are down there and rugby's it [for them].”

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With over 2 million followers on TikTok, Maher says that her viral online persona is authentic to who she is.

“It’s very much off the cuff. It’s kind of like, my teammates say I say my jokes twice — once to them, and then once to the world, so it’s just riffing,” she told PEOPLE at the Team USA house in Paris on July 31. “Whatever I am online is how I am in real life. [My teammates] keep me grounded, they keep me sane.”

“They tell me what’s right, what’s not, so they’re just the best,” she said of her teammates.

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