USA Women’s 7s star Ilona Maher has taken the Rugby World by storm over the past month.
Matching her top quality performances on the pitch with a social media presence unlike we have ever seen in the sport, the US athlete has taken the sport to a previously untapped market.
With 2.3 million followers on TikTok and 3.8 million on Instagram, Maher dwarfs any other rugby player’s social media following.
Building her audience by producing incredibly high quality posts, Maher let’s her fans see all aspects of her life as a professional rugby player whilst remaining relatable to a wide spectrum of people.
Whilst Maher’s huge social media followings are incredibly impressive, her recent homecoming celebration put into context just how popular she is.
Arriving in the back of an open-top car, Maher is greeted by a hero’s welcome from what appears to be hundreds of fans.
Brandishing the star-spangled banner, she is presented with gifts and what appears to be the key to her town in what was an epic moment for both Maher and the sport of Rugby in the US.
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