Ilona Maher was already web royalty—by blood, no less than (her sister invented ‘lady dinner’)—however as of this week, the rugby participant is undeniably one of many Paris Olympics’ greatest breakout stars.
Whereas the 27-year-old helped Crew USA’s rugby workforce win a bronze medal final night time, that’s removed from the one motive Ilona is having a second.
Refreshingly candid and effortlessly cool, it’s unimaginable to not just like the Olympian, whose now-viral TikTok addresses the whole lot from body-shaming to biased gender stereotypes in sports activities—all whereas holding her sharp sense of humour and looking out flawless with daring pink lips.
Actually, whereas such a powerful shade of lipstick looks like an odd juxtaposition for such a powerful athlete, that’s the entire level: Ilona is actively combatting clichés about ladies in sports activities. Her Instagram bio even says, “In all probability carrying lipstick.” And like, identical, however it’s in all probability much less spectacular coming from me.
As for why the Olympic medalist determined to make it her factor? Ilona advised CBS Mornings it was just about a “stick it to the person” scenario. “It doesn’t take away out of your athletic means when you put on make-up,” she mentioned. If you wish to placed on a full face of make-up to go sort out folks, good on you when you’re doing it.”
Kristy Sparow/Getty Photos
Kristy Sparow/Getty Photos
Ilona continued that she doesn’t “wish to simply be one factor on the market” and feels that she will “be a beast and may play this very bodily aggressive sport whereas additionally holding my femininity” as she does it.
“The lipstick was simply sort of just a little approach to deliver that onto the sector and [when] I noticed the response that folks cherished it, virtually in a enterprise sense as nicely, and I used to be like, ‘oh, let’s put on lipstick!’ I might like to see if a make-up deal comes on!’” she mentioned of why the custom continued for the Olympics. “And there’s a sure lipstick I put on that I all the time love.”
That there’s, and whereas we don’t know if there’s a model deal but, we do know which one it’s: Maybelline Tremendous Keep Matte Ink, which, by the best way, is barely £10.
