Ilona Maher, an Olympic rugby star, faced criticism for a post she believed would resonate positively with her audience. She shared a collection of photos intended to be empowering.
However, it appears that her audience did not respond as she had hoped.
Keep reading to find out more.
Olympic-winning rugby player Ilona Maher has a notable presence on social media, which she often uses to share various content. She created a post that she thought would convey a message of resilience, but it ended up distancing her from her followers.
Last weekend, Maher strutted down the runway at the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show in Miami, showcasing eye-catching bikinis that highlighted her figure. Her hair flowed freely behind her, and she openly acknowledged that she was on her period during the event.
“Men think they are tough, but they’ll never do Miami Swim Week in just bikinis while on their period like I did,” Maher stated. “I applaud myself.”
The video she shared featured the song I’ll Make a Man Out of You from Disney’s Mulan. However, what she thought would be seen as empowering did not resonate well with her audience.
Many women who commented expressed that they had accomplished much more while on their period and did not appreciate the self-praise in her post.
“This is not a flex,” one commenter remarked. “Almost all women continue to work, wear bathing suits, go swimming, etc., when on their period.”
“So she walked while on her period? I didn’t realize we women could do such a thing,” another commenter added, dripping with sarcasm.
While some individuals found her post commendable, others felt it was insensitive to the struggles that many women face during their menstrual cycle.
“Just think about being a female soldier in the midst of war while on your period. Cramps, clotting, and everything! That’s what I call bravery,” another commenter expressed.
“Consider being a nurse, dressed in all white, dealing with extremely heavy periods, yet still showing up for your 8 to 10 hour shift—5 minutes on the runway pales in comparison to that,” another person added their perspective.
“I’m pretty sure that’s what a tampon is for when you’re in a bathing suit,” one user shared their thoughts on why they didn’t view the act as courageous.
“Kudos for walking while on your period. I had no idea that was something to brag about. Now that I know, I’ll be sure to tell everyone I did the same thing.”
Others questioned the logic behind her post, with one person remarking, “Some women go to the beach while on their cycle. That’s not bravery; that’s just being a woman.”
“So impressive, so brave… The misuse of words really needs to stop. Bravery used to have real meaning,” another frustrated netizen commented.
The rugby player from Vermont made her debut on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in September 2024, where she was hailed as a “revolutionary athlete and feminist trailblazer.”
In this year’s edition, Maher was featured alongside Salma Hayek, Jordan Chiles, and her Dancing with the Stars co-star, Brooks Nader.
Maher has openly expressed her desire to enter the modeling industry. In 2022, she shared a video detailing her aspiration to be included in it as one of her lifelong goals.
“I’m dedicated to motivating others to embrace their bodies and discover their own beauty, regardless of societal standards. I believe I would make an excellent model for your issue,” she stated.
At 28 years old, she has been training for the past 11 years, is in excellent physical shape, and aims to be a role model for body positivity.
What are your thoughts on the criticism Ilona Maher faced for her reel showcasing her runway experience at the Sports Illustrated show while she was on her period?
We’d love to hear your opinions in the comments. Feel free to share this with others to gather their thoughts.