1 week Ago By People
Ilona Maher is embracing her body yet again for the forthcoming issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. The professional rugby player was unveiled as one of the stars of the upcoming summer 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, which is scheduled to arrive in May. In a sneak peek at her shoot, Maher sports a two-piece, green and white floral-printed micro bikini.
In the image, Maher looks away from the camera while holding up the ties of her swimsuit bottom, further exposing her toned legs towards the camera. Related: Ilona Maher Is Waiting for Guys to Slide into Her DMs — but for Now She'll Continue Being Funny Online (and IRL) The Olympic bronze medalist told the outlet that she hopes her images inspire confidence in others. “I hope people see my photos and understand that strength can be so beautiful and so feminine,” she said.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. On Instagram, Maher shared a video that featured her in several of the bikinis she wore on the day of the shoot — in addition to the micro bikini in the preview image, Maher also donned a cheetah print two-piece micro bikini, a tiger printed halter bikini, a strapless black one-piece swimsuit with torso cutouts and more sultry pieces. "Thank you to @si_swimsuit for once again letting me showcase my strong, powerful body and for making me feel so beautiful," the 28-year-old captioned the post.
"For young Ilona wearing a bikini was once unthinkable but now I’d actually prefer to be prancing around in one. Stay sexy, folks." Related: Alix Earle Poses in Micro Knit Bikini and Body Chain for 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Maher's appearance in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit 's summer 2025 issue marks her second time posing for the magazine.
She first appeared in the magazine in 2024 as the cover star , and opened up in the corresponding interview about the criticism that her figure has received through the years. The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! “I was always like, you know, called masculine or whatever," Maher told the outlet in her 2024 SI interview. "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." The athlete, who also competed on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, continued, "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.
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