Ilona Maher Talks Pressure of Beauty Standards amid Trendy Weight-Loss Drugs: ‘Skinny Is Everywhere’

Ilona Maher doesn’t want to feel “ashamed” of being influenced by social media.

On Saturday, Jan. 24, the Olympic rugby player, 29, posted a candid TikTok video about the social pressure to have a certain body type. 

“Some post-gym thoughts for y’all,” she began. “Now that skinny is everywhere and thin is in and weight-loss drugs are being marketed to us nonstop, I don’t want you guys to be ashamed or feel that you are weak-minded for getting slightly influenced by all this rhetoric.”

“I don’t want you guys to be like ‘Well, I love myself, why am I thinking this way? I don’t know if I want to lose weight but this athlete who I used to look up to is telling me to buy their weight-loss drug.’ I don’t want you to feel bad about yourself,” she continued. 

“I know that it affects me and I love my body. My body is amazing, but even I get these feelings of ‘Oh maybe I should lose a few pounds.’ And I do feel ashamed. I feel ashamed of myself for feeling it. But I think we also have to remember how powerful society is and how powerful the influence of social media can be.”

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Maher explained that it’s “completely normal” to have those thoughts, admitting that so many people, including herself, have them as well. She said she wants to start changing the rhetoric so that being “as thin as possible” isn’t the goal.

“Can we change it to be, I wanna feel as best as I can in my body. I wanna be as strong as I possibly can,” she said. “I think we just have to change the dialogue. Be kind to yourself.” 

“It is hard to see all of that information floating through your brain saying this is the right way to look. I’m with you on it,” she ended. “For me, I’m doing what’s best to feel the best in myself and that is to eat right and to lift weights and be strong. Let’s all strive for that. I love you. Keep fighting the good fight out there and I will too.”

In the comments section, one follower told the athlete that they’re struggling because so many stars are “stick thin,” which makes them feel bad about themselves.

Maher replied: “Dude, I know. It is f—in hard. Be kind to yourself. I’d say remember that if you need to put chemicals into your body to make it look a certain way then that’s not your body.”

The Olympic bronze medalist is often using her social media platform to promote body positivity and shut down beauty standards. 

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In November 2025, she shared a video on Instagram showing off her stomach and reminding followers that you don’t need a “six-pack” to be strong and fit.

“I’m not saying six-packs are bad, but I do firmly believe that we aren’t all meant to have them and they are not a determinant of how fit or athletic you are,” she wrote. “I am a two-time Olympian in an extremely fitness-based sport. Been a professional athlete for 7 years and I have never had a six-pack. I used to compare myself to my teammates who did have them. Yet, I’d still be faster, stronger, and fitter than some of them.”

Maher added that she learned that her “body and mind need to be properly fueled” and that “looks different for me” compared to her other teammates, peers and others.

“Be kind to your body. We aren’t all meant to be small,” she said. “Take up space. See exactly what your body is capable of with or without a six-pack.”