“I love showing my body. I love showing what this body has done for me…” After Ilona Maher walked the runway for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit on May 31, she was asked, “Was it tough being in a swimsuit?” Maher has been vocal and rightfully firm on her stance around such questions pointed at her. And in a similar fashion, she is back in the limelight, not just for clapping back at a viral, body-shaming incident, but also for the powerful support she’s received from another sporting icon: Lindsey Vonn. 

In May 2025, Ilona Maher featured in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit issue for the second time, after 2024. That’s when she thanked the brand for letting her showcase her strength, which also made her feel so beautiful. She also made a brave confession, “For young Ilona, wearing a bikini was once unthinkable, but now I’d actually prefer to be prancing around in one. Stay s–y, folks.” But little did she know that this one moment of joy for her would turn into a whole social media nightmare for her…

On June 26, Maher broke her silence about a very problematic issue. She confessed that one of her bikini pictures from the SI Swimsuit ramp was going viral, with people debating online if her body type is overweight or not. Maher said, “It has 35,000 likes, 20 million views, 2.4k shares, 17,000 comments. Wow. 20 million people are viewing my body and debating over it.” But she isn’t one to keep quiet. She clapped back with a perfect response that even had the 3x Olympic medalist skier, Lindsey Vonn, cheer for her.

Ilona Maher reacted to the viral post, saying, “In terms of being overweight, yeah, sure. I happen to be thick. I happen to be juicy.” But the ones who are thin? They aren’t spared from all the judging either. Well, Maher has always been the one to say, ‘it’s time to ditch the overweight test.’ This time too, she responded with, “My body type is beautiful, is worthy, okay? Yes, it’s bigger than what’s considered beautiful in society, but there is beauty in it.” And this fiery reply got Lindsey Vonn to go all gaga over Maher’s confidence and approach. Vonn commented on Ilona Maher’s post and said, “Very well said!! We are all beautiful in our own way and I think you look amazing!💪🏻❤️“

In fact, Vonn wasn’t done here. She even reposted Ilona Maher’s video reaction on her Instagram story with the caption, “Hell yes!! Thank you for being you.” Well, Maher has been promoting body positivity for the longest time. She believes all bodies are beautiful and capable. At 130 pounds, back in the sixth grade, when Maher was the biggest girl, she would question herself, “why am I always bigger than everybody?” This is something she only gradually realised, and now she proudly spreads that message to the world. No slams unnatural weight loss methods, and embraces everything that is real, god gifted.

Interestingly, Lindsey Vonn, who is praising the rugby player, is also a fearless athlete like Ilona Maher in her own way. Coincidentally, both of them have now been chosen for very special awards.

Maher and Vonn Keep Winning

Lindsey Vonn is a four-time skiing World Cup winner who came back from her retirement and resumed professional skiing after years in 2024. She defied the norms that athletes should retire at a particular age or that they can’t compete after they get older. No wonder she is now nominated for the prestigious 2025 ESPY Best Comeback Athlete of the Year award.

On the other hand, Ilona Maher, who helped Team USA take their first-ever rugby sevens bronze home at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is nominated for an award too. Ilona Maher, who achieved this rare feat as an athlete and then went on to finish in the top 4 finalists of the Dancing With The Stars reality TV show, has been nominated for the 2025 ESPY Breakthrough Athlete of the Year.

Both these awards suit these athletes very well. Hopefully, they will continue raising their voice for the right things in the future!