Ilona Maher and fan twin for memorable day together

The rugby star gave one little girl the VIP treatment.
Ilona Maher at the 76th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles.
Ilona Maher at the 76th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theater on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles. | Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY

Ilona Maher is spreading her love of rugby to the next generation of little girls.

Maher, 28, held a fan's hand and brought her onto the field in a heartfelt video posted to Instagram on Sunday, February 9. In another clip from the same video, the fan can be seen jumping up and down, high-fiving another woman in excitement.

In a separate video, the young girl can be heard saying, “That was amazing. Best thing I ever done in my life.”

"She is literally my twin," a text box of Maher's comment read on the video. "Like looking in a mirror of my past."

"Love this!" her former "Dancing with the Stars" partner Alan Bersten commented.

A fan chimed in, "Absolutely stunning! Ilona keeps helping me heal inner child stuff I didn’t even know I was holding on to. Kindness and compassion are so important."

"I hope she grow a healthy and super self confident woman ❤️," a third person wrote.

RELATED: Ilona Maher: The Superstar Energizing Bristol Bears And Redefining Women’s Rugby

The Olympian and the little girl even wore matching red lipstick, adding to the sweet connection between them.

Maher previously shared the story behind her signature red color in an August interview with The Cut, saying, "I think it works for my coloring so well."

“It’s not something I always did, but I’ve always loved lipstick, even from when I was a young girl,” she added. “So I thought about how cool it could be to wear while playing because everyone is always saying how masculine rugby is and that you have to be a certain way to play and I didn’t like that.”

“So I was like, ‘Why can’t I just wear it on the field too?’ and feel pretty on the field?" she concluded. "It’s not like it’s gonna stop me from tackling hard. And it’s been a cool brand for me now."

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Chelsea Hirsch
CHELSEA HIRSCH

Chelsea Hirsch is a passionate editor and writer with extensive experience in celebrity news and entertainment. She has told stories through both photos and words — at Shutterstock, she covered major events like Paris Hilton's wedding, showcasing her ability to work on large-scale, high-profile assignments. She previously worked as a Senior Reporter at Page Six, where she wrote in-depth features that captured the latest celebrity developments, from high-profile lawsuits to exclusive red carpet interviews. A graduate of the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, with a focus on arts and culture reporting, Chelsea also holds a BA in Journalism and Media Management from SUNY New Paltz. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and spending quality time with her family, often relaxing at the beach.

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