American union rugby player Ilona Maher recently shared a selfie in her new look, hours after her debut with the Bristol Bears women's team. Maher came off the bench during the Bears' fixture against Gloucester-Hartpury on Sunday (Dec. 5).
The Bears lost this home contest by a margin of 17-40 despite more than 9000 fans tuning up in the stadium to watch the match. Maher's side is currently on a two-match losing streak after this defeat, with their next match against the third-placed Chiefs on December 12.
Following the matchday, Maher was spotted in an off-field avatar as she posed for a mirror selfie during her leisure time in Bristol. The 28-year-old was seen donning a brown winter jacket and cap.
Ilona Maher got 20 minutes during this match against Gloucester-Hartpury. However, her popularity and social media fame have already contributed to record-breaking attendance in the stadiums.
Ilona Maher opens up about the pressure she has to deal with her mounting fame
Ilona Maher recently commented on the pressure she has to deal with her growing fame and popularity. Currently, Maher is one of the most popular rugby stars in the world with an immense social media presence and recognition.
Speaking in a recent interview, Maher said she doesn't feel the pressure of fame but knows the source of this growth in her popularity. Additionally, she also mentioned that she had urged her teammates at US Sevens to this social media game. She said (via ESPN):
"I don't ever feel it, but I could see where it could come from. And I guess I do in a way because right now it seems to be, oh, it's just Ilona Maher like, oh, 'we gotta get her in this and this and this. And that's where I also would love to bring these teammates up. "
She added:
"I'm always trying to get my teammates for the USA sevens, always trying to get them to come up and even during the Olympics so many of them put media out there and grew their following."
Ilona Maher also expressed her liking to become a superstar in the sport of rugby but also remarked that one superstar is not enough to take this sport to greater heights.