Rugby star's Ilona Maher's Miami Swim Week reveal
A popular rugby player and US Olympian has revealed a key detail that went on behind the scenes of her Miami Swim week appearance.
Ilona Maher, who is the world's most followed rugby player on social media, recently took the internet by storm with her appearance.
'Men think they are tough but they'll never do Miami Swim Week wearing only bikinis while on their periods like I did,' she said.
Fans commended Maher for her efforts.
'You absolutely SHINED in Miami Swim Week, GO GIRL,' one said.
Another said: 'Hell yeah, I'm synched up with an Olympic champion�.'
'Another medal, get her another medal now,' one commented.
One said: 'WHILE ON YOUR PERIOD? SLAY!'
Maher has been in swimsuits a lot recently between the fashion event and appearing in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit edition for the second time.
When asked if being in a swimsuit was tough for her, Mahertold the Today Show she loved showing off what her body had done for her.
'I've been to two Olympics now. It does amazing things on the field. It's just perfect for what it does and so strong,' she said.
'I think other girls seeing that, and feeling like, 'Oh my gosh, I look like her, I have the frame of her' not only has helped me and made me feel more confident, I think it helps others.
'You can be just as confident, feel as beautiful as I do.'
She also said she did zero preparation ahead of her Sports Illustrated appearance, saying she wanted to look back and appreciate the real version of herself.
The 28-year-old has been forced to defend what her body looks like, particularly last year after a troll called her out for having a BMI of 30.
'I do have a BMI of 30, well 29.3 to be more exact. I've been considered overweight my whole life,' she said in a now viral clip shared last year.
'In middle school, elementary school, high school, I've always been considered overweight.'
Maher recalled an incident in high school when she had to return a physical test to the school office and at the bottom it said 'overweight'.
'I was so embarrassed to turn that in and to have that written there,' she said.
'So my whole life I've been this way. I chatted with my dietitian, because I go off facts and not just what pops off up here (as she points to her head), like you do.
'We talked about BMI and how it really isn't helpful to athletes. BMI doesn't tell you much, it just tells you your height and weight and what that equals.
'I've said it before, I'm five-ten (178cm), 200 pounds (90kgs), and I have about 170 pounds of lean mass on me. Do that math in your head, you probably can't.
'That's pretty crazy right? And that BMI doesn't really tell you what I can do. It doesn't tell you what I do on the field, how fit I am, it's just a couple of numbers put together.'
And then the two-time Olympian finished it off with the perfect take-down, adding; 'So yeah I do have a BMI of 30, I am considered overweight. But alas, I'm going to the Olympics, and you're not.'
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