At 5’10” and 200 pounds, U.S. Olympic athlete Ilona Maher is an imposing presence. The standout rugby sevens player just made history with her team by winning a bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Maher also stands out off the field, where her delightful and humorous social media antics have garnered her a passionate following. Maher not only shares her love of sport but also spreads body positivity. At a time of rampant gender confusion and disregard for biology, Maher’s message is worth applauding.
The term “body positivity” has come to mean promoting anything and everything, even if it’s contrary to DNA or dismissive of health concerns because feelings are what matter most. In contrast, Maher shares a message that conservatives should embrace. I’ve yet to see Maher be political. Her message is a broad one of owning, celebrating, and taking care of the body you’re in, no matter what that looks like. This squarely opposes the push to reject your body in favor of what you “feel” you should have been.
Maher’s message of being comfortable with your own individuality is significant. She is muscular, broad-shouldered, and powerful and has a defined jawline. But none of these features make her any less feminine.
As a public-facing figure with a strong voice of her own, Maher has faced plenty of backlash simply for existing. Included in the reactions Maher receives are questions about her BMI and claims she looks too masculine. She is neither petite nor skinny. So what? Femininity exists on a spectrum, and no woman should be told she must meet a certain ideal or else she has failed.
If anything, that kind of attitude only feeds a delusion that could turn into gender dysphoria and an embrace of, or at least a curiosity about, transgender ideology. Celebrating the inherent characteristics that separate and define males and females is a good thing. It is just as necessary to recognize the uniqueness among females as a whole.
Maher’s popularity resulted in some prominent accounts on X posting, “Is this a man or a woman?”, and wonder why some compare her to model Brooke Shields. The numerous insults show that far too many are unable to celebrate a wide array of body types.
Meanwhile, Maher pushes back on this criticism.
“All body types matter. All body types are worthy: From the smallest gymnast to the tallest volleyball player, from a rugby player to a shot-putter, a sprinter. All body types are beautiful, can do amazing things. Truly see yourself in these athletes and know that you can do it too,” Maher said in a video on TikTok.
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Diversity and inclusion are terms that have come to develop negative connotations. But accepting those who may not look like everyone else is not “woke.” It’s a concept that children and adults alike need to learn. Maher’s message is a valuable one in an age where mental health, especially among youth, is deteriorating. Her hard work in the gym and on the pitch has brought her success in her sport and a platform to spread a valuable message.
Taking care of your body matters. Hard work is important. And just because you don’t fit in a perfect box doesn’t make you unworthy or less feminine. Maher is a role model for young girls and women in a society that constantly bombards us with overwhelming and destructive beauty standards. We need more of Maher’s unapologetic and uplifting honesty that embraces nature instead of rejecting it.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.