NEED TO KNOW

• Ilona Maher shared a new Instagram video on Wednesday, Nov. 5, showing off her “athletic” body with no “six-pack,” delivering a body-positive message to fans
• In the video, she poses and highlights her stomach, as well as her toned biceps and back, telling followers that six-packs “are not a determinant of how fit or athletic you are”
• The athlete has shared posts on body positivity in the past, and has championed the idea that everyone’s body is unique

Team USA rugby player Ilona Maher is showing what a healthy body looks like.

The 29-year-old athlete shared an Instagram video on Wednesday, Nov. 5, highlighting her toned body — and particularly her “normal and healthy” stomach with no “six-pack.”

Set to Madonna’s “Vogue,” the video features the two-time Olympian in the gym showing her stomach from the front and side. She also strikes proud poses as she flaunts her strong figure.

At the end, she highlights her back and biceps — and her stomach one more time — before walking away from the camera laughing.

Over the video, she wrote, “Posing with my completely normal and healthy stomach like those people with six packs do.”

In the caption, Maher further explained why she shared the video, saying she did not believe that a “six-pack” was indicative of how “athletic” a person is, and that she is an example of that.

“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,” she continued. “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.”

The Olympic bronze-medalist went on to say 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. She concluded her caption with a message of body positivity to her fans.

“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.”

Several people praised the rugby star for the video, including one person who wrote, “I just want to say on behalf of all us women we really needed you to come into our lives and the world is so lucky to have you.”

Another person said, “Every single post you make heals me just so you know.”

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This isn’t the first time the athlete has spread a message of body positivity. In July, she shared another Instagram video showing off her toned physique and boasting that being strong is so much better than “skinny.”

“‘Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels’… Uh, y’all tried being strong? I feel good. I feel well fed. I feel ready to take on anybody,” she said while flexing her muscles in the camera. “You guys gotta try this s—. It’s a different level. I’m feeling…woo! I love it.”

“And also, have you guys tasted tiramisu? Because that s—… my God,” she quipped.

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