Hot Is Hot!
Ilona Maher's Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition cover is jaw-droppingly sexy, but it's a bit disappointing that it was marketed as some sort of radical, trailblazing act, IMO.
Photos: Sports Illustrated/Getty Images Entertainment Paris Olympics
On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated unveiled the cover star of its September digital issue. Spoiler alert: It’s Olympic bronze medalist and social media superstar, Ilona Maher! I mean, come on. Who else?
The spread features the rugby center in a series of skimpy swimsuits (and her signature red lip) posing in front of a golden hour backdrop in Bellport, New York. In one shot, she wears only her medal and a pair of bronze bottoms. In another, she flexes in a pool while donning a red bikini. Need I go on? You get it. I get it. Maher is sexy as hell. However, if you asked Sports Illustrated, the choice to put Maher on the cover wasn’t only about her sex appeal. Instead, it was a “powerful statement” on women’s strength…