The Olympic rugby player told SI Swim that her sport had “shown her how capable my body is”

Ilona Maher gets her Sports illustrated Cover the moment.

The 28-year-old Olympic rugby player has officially made her debut with her own digital cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuitwhat editor-in-chief MJ Day calls “a turn in the narrative.”

“Ilona’s presence on our cover symbolizes a shift in the narrative – one that celebrates not only physical strength, but the courage to lead, inspire and advocate for change,” Day says in the September digital issue of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, supported by Maybelline. “We couldn’t be more excited and inspired by this revolutionary athlete and feminist trailblazer!”

Day also said: “Having Ilona Maher on the cover of our September digital issue is more than just a celebration of her sporting achievements – it is a powerful statement. Ilona is a modern-day role model of strength, conviction and authenticity, while also demonstrating the indomitable spirit of an inspirational human being. Her ability to break barriers both on and off the field resonates with women everywhere.”

Related: Olympian Ilona Maher’s Body Positivity Message to 9-Year-Old Fan Goes Viral (Exclusive)

In the stunning photos – taken by Ben Watts on Fire Island Beach in Bellport, New York – Maher shows off her toned body in a variety of swimwear, including a chocolate brown bikini.

The athlete is a social media sensation, a committed advocate for women’s rights in sports and continues to fight against stereotypes against female athletes.

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“I was always called masculine or something like that,” says Maher sI. “But I never felt that way. But I don’t think you’re going to bully the girl who could probably beat you up in a fit of rage. I love that (rugby) has shown me what I can do. It’s shown me how capable my body is and that it’s not just a tool to be looked at and viewed as an object.”

Maher, who led Team USA to its first Olympic bronze medal in rugby sevens at the Paris Games earlier this summer, also spoke with sI about the salary differences between male and female rugby players.

“(Men) can play rugby and get paid millions of dollars, while we get paid minimum wage and it’s not a career for us,” she says. “I have teammates who are now going into their careers, while these guys are down there playing rugby it (for them).”

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Maher, who has over 2 million followers on TikTok, says her viral online persona is authentic.

“It’s very spontaneous. It’s like my teammates say I tell my jokes twice – once to them and then once to the world, so it’s just chatter,” she told PEOPLE on July 31 at the Team USA house in Paris. “The way I am online is the way I am in real life. (My teammates) keep me grounded, they keep me sane.”

“They tell me what is right and what is wrong, so they are just the best,” she said of her teammates.

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