Ilona Maher, an Olympic rugby star, came under fire for a post that she thought would have the opposite effect on her audience. She posted a series of photos she meant to be seen as empowering.
However, it seems like people did not appreciate that at all.
Keep reading to learn more.
Olympic-winning rugby star Ilona Maher has a significant social media presence, which she typically uses to post content. She made a post that she thought would communicate a story of resilience, but instead, ended up alienating her audience.
Maher walked down the runway of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit show in Miami last weekend and wore striking bikinis that accentuated her figure. She had her hair open and flowing behind her. And while she did all of this, she was on her period, a fact that she did not hide.
“Men think they are tough but they’ll never do Miami Swim Week wearing only bikinis while on their period like I did,” Maher wrote. “I applaud myself.”
The reel she posted featured the song I’ll Make a Man Out of You from Disney’s Mulan. However, what she assumed would seem empowering to her audience did not go down too well.
Most women who commented stated how they had done a lot more on their period and did not appreciate the self-congratulatory post.
“This is not a flex,” a person wrote in the comments. “Almost all women continue to work, wear bathing suits, go swimming, etc… when on their period.”
“So she walked while on her period? Didn’t know us women could do such a thing,” another added with clear sarcasm.
While some people appreciated what she posted, others thought that this was insensitive to what some other women have to go through during their period.
“Imagine being a female soldier in the trenches of war during your period. Cramps, clotting and all! That’s bravery to me,” another wrote.
“Imagine being a nurse, wearing all white and having super heavy periods, and still going to work for your 8 to 10 hour shift—5 minutes on the runway is peanuts compared to that,” another person chimed in.
“Pretty sure that’s what a tampon is for when wearing a bathing suit,” one user added their two cents on why they did not think the act was brave.
“Congratulations on walking while on your period. I didn’t know it was a flex. Now that I do, I’m going to tell everyone I did the same thing.”
Others questioned whether her post made any sense, with one person commenting, “Some women go to the beach while on their cycle. That’s not bravery. That’s called being a woman.”
“So stunning, so brave… The bastardization of words really needs to end. Bravery used to mean something,” another annoyed netizen added.
The rugby player from Vermont first debuted her cover for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in September 2024. At that time she was celebrated as a “revolutionary athlete and feminist trailblazer.”
Now, in this year’s edition, Maher appeared alongside Salma Hayek, Jordan Chiles, and her Dancing with the Stars co-star, Brooks Nader.
Maher has been vocal about her wishes to be a part of the modelling world. In 2022, she posted a video how she wished to be featured in it as one of the lifelong goals.
“I’m committed to inspiring others to appreciate their body and to find their own beauty no matter what society says. I think I would be a great model for your issue,” she had said.
The 28-year-old has been training for the last 11 years and is physically very fit and aims to serve as a body positivity model.
What do you think of the backlash Ilona Maher received for her reel about her runway for the Sports Illustrated show while on her period? Let us know in the comments. Share this with others to see what they think.
