At a Glance
- Ilona Maher, 29, posted an Instagram video on Jan. 12 inviting critics to “fire away” with “dumb comments” because their negativity fuels her content
- Two days earlier she clapped back at a man who said she looked “pregnant” in a form-fitting dress, telling him he “probably haven’t seen a woman naked in a long time”
- The rugby Olympian uses her platform to promote strength over thinness and has racked up 15.1 million views on her latest body-positivity clip
- Why it matters: Maher’s viral responses challenge unrealistic body standards and show athletes refusing to stay silent about online harassment
Ilona Maher is turning internet trolls into viral gold. The 29-year-old rugby Olympian posted a defiant Instagram message on Monday, Jan. 12, warning critics who leave “dumb comments” that she will no longer hide their usernames when she responds-and she’s already cashing in on the backlash.
From Red Carpet to Clapback
Posing on the red carpet at The Hollywood Reporter and Spotify pre-Golden Globes party on Jan. 8, Maher captioned her clip: “Honestly loving when people make dumb comments cause it gives me content so fire away. I won’t be blocking out your names when I respond.” She soundtracked the post with Ayra Starr’s “Hot Body,” underscoring her unapologetic mood.
The post landed just 48 hours after she roasted a man who told her she looked “pregnant” in a tight orange dress. In a Jan. 10 video viewed 15.1 million times by Jan. 13, Maher recounted the exchange:
- A guy commented “You look pregnant in that dress” on one of her photos
- He later deleted the remark after Maher fired back
- She re-posted her reply for her followers: “That’s just a normal woman’s body. You probably haven’t seen a woman naked in a long time, if ever, and I hope you never get the privilege to again”
The Power of Visibility
Maher filmed herself patting her stomach and added, “I always have this, okay? I’m sucking it in right now… please, please, stop commenting the dumbest stuff.” She captioned the clip, “I think this message is too important not to share again,” signaling her commitment to normalizing athletic, muscular bodies.
This is not her first body-positivity rodeo. In July 2024 she flexed for the camera and rejected the slogan “Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels,” countering:
- “Y’all tried being strong? I feel good. I feel well fed. I feel ready to take on anybody”
- “You guys gotta try this s—. It’s a different level”
- She joked, “Have you guys tasted tiramisu? Because that s—… my God”
Key Takeaways
- Ilona Maher leverages social-media hate to amplify body-acceptance messages
- Her Jan. 10 response video has surpassed 15 million views, proving the appetite for unfiltered athlete perspectives
- By refusing to blur usernames, she raises the stakes for would-be trolls
- The rugby star’s mantra: strength over thinness, dessert over deprivation
According to News Of Losangeles, Maher’s dual posts mark the latest chapter in her ongoing campaign to redefine beauty standards for female athletes-one viral clapback at a time.
