BY: DM
Published 6 days ago
Ilona Maher isn’t just a beast on the rugby field. She’s also a bold voice off the field, especially when it comes to self-love, confidence, and queerness. The 28-year-old from Vermont shot to fame during the Tokyo Olympics with behind-the-scenes TikTok videos, quickly gaining millions of followers.
As Maher’s fame grew, so did curiosity about her personal life and whether she identified as LGBTQIA+. Women’s rugby has long faced stereotypes that label strong female athletes as “automatically” lesbians. Maher’s muscular build and confident swagger led many to assume she was queer. Thousands of sapphic fans openly swooned over her on Twitter and TikTok, flooding her mentions with love. But Maher set the record straight and made her orientation clear.
Ilona Maher is not a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
@ilonamaher Regrettably though, I am straight. #fyp #foryoupage #rugby #usarugbysevens #beastbeautybrains #athlete #rugbytok
? Renai Circulation (English Cover) [2012 TV Size] – Lizz Robinett
Maher has addressed rumors about her orientation, revealing that she is heterosexual. “Regrettably though, I am straight,” she joked on TikTok. Maher’s sexuality might be straight, but her fanbase is very queer. And while she is not part of the LGBTQIA+ community herself, Maher has welcomed her lesbian, bisexual, and queer admirers with open arms.
Maher leans into the love instead of getting defensive about the crushes and “girl crush” comments. In a BuzzFeed segment, the Olympic athlete read thirsty tweets from fans — and ate it up. “One fan tweeted, ‘If God is real, then how come Ilona Maher isn’t gay?’ Maher shot back with a cheeky grin and said, ‘Take it up with him, I guess.'”
This genuine camaraderie has made Maher more loved. Her social platforms often show off her close friendships with LGBTQIA+ folks — she’s mentioned that many of her best friends are gay, and she proudly marked events like Lesbian Visibility Week alongside her teammates.
Why does the public care about her sexuality?
Maher’s love life and identity have sparked conversation for several reasons. Maher often challenges outdated ideas about how female athletes should look or act. Additionally, on social media, lesbian and bisexual women often call her their “wife” or “girlfriend” in fantasy, fueling viral buzz about her orientation. Still, ignorant critics often assume that muscular, confident women are gay — or even mistake them for men.
Maher hasn’t shied away from tough conversations about gender and sexuality in sports — she’s led them with grace and honesty. When trolls hurled insults, calling her a “man” or claiming she’s not feminine, Maher responded. “I get comments being called a man and being called masculine and asking if I’m on steroids,” Maher said. “There will always be negative people out there. And they put women in a box. And they think women should be fragile and petite and quiet and meek. But that’s not the case.”
Maher shares her life unfiltered on TikTok and Instagram, breaking away from how athletes used to present themselves. Fans feel connected to her and often ask personal questions or speculate in the comments. While she doesn’t identify as a queer athlete, she amplifies queer voices and proudly engages with the community.
Why do you think strong women like Ilona always get labeled queer? Comment below!
