Olympic athlete who had perfect response to body-shaming trolls praised for her sobering message

Ilona Maher, an American rugby union player currently competing in this year's Olympics in Paris, is being hailed on social media for putting across a positive message about body image.

Maher, who is part of Team USA, helped her teammates achieve a bronze medal yesterday (30 July) - the first time the team have won any medal at the Olympics.

The athlete scored in the first two contests of the 2024 Summer Games, helping her team secure their place and ultimately win a medal.

As well as being a rugby star, Maher is also a social media sensation, often going viral on TikTok - and earning almost 2 million followers.

She told the Associated Press: "It was important for me to show I am funny but I’m also the real deal and I also [am] a very good rugby player.

As well as being a rugby star, Maher is also a social media sensation. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

"And so it was important for me to show that you can be anything. You can be beast, beauty, brains.”

So it should come as no surprise that she has also gone viral on Instagram for spreading a positive message about body image.

Posting a photo of her back, the post has garnered almost 200,000 likes.

The caption reads: "Dear girl with the big shoulders,

"You are not undesirable.

"You are not built like a linebacker.

"You are not manly.

"You are not unattractive.

"You are beautiful."

Maher's Instagram post has gained hundreds of thousands of likes. (Instagram/@ilonamaher)

She continues: "You are imposing.

"You are powerful.

"You are magnificent.

"Put your shoulders back, wear your head high, and walk into any room like you own the place."

She signs off with: "Love, Ilona."

The comments were flooded with praise for the important message.

One person wrote: "As a girl who has broad shoulders, thank you!"

A second person said: "This made me want to cry, I’ve had broad shoulders all my life and never see people highlighting their beauty on social media until now. Thank you for reminding me and the world of their power and beauty."

Maher helped lead her team to a Bronze medal. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

It seems that many of this years' Olympians are full of positive messaging.

Simone Biles, an Olympic gymnast, has spoken out about the expectations Black women and athletes face with regards to their hair.

She told Elle earlier this month: "We’ve [Black women] been able to take care of our hair better and take care of our beauty routines better, because it’s self-taught. It’s really special that we have access to [social media] platforms.”

She concluded: “I used to worry about [my hair being considered] not professional. But I’m not embarrassed about it anymore.”