With almost 9mn followers across Instagram, TikTok and other platforms, Ilona Maher is easily the most followed star at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
She and her US teammates were heavily beaten by hosts and tournament favourites England in their opening game. But the 29-year-old American centre is nevertheless building on her team bronze in the women’s rugby sevens at the 2024 Olympics, her part in drawing record crowds at Premiership Women’s Rugby side Bristol Bears, and before that her dominance of the US college championships.
Away from rugby, she finished runner-up in the US reality TV series Dancing with the Stars last year and has been linked with professional wrestling. Her social media clips, often advocating around body positivity and gender issues, attract millions of views.