Ilona Maher has done it again! The “Dancing with the Stars” alum and Olympic medal-winning athlete has slayed a stunning look for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
“While the annual SI Swimsuit Issue hits newsstands each May, our team is hard at work behind-the scenes for months ahead of time, creating the magic that makes up the magazine from across the globe,” according to Sports Illustrated. “In December 2025, the SI Swimsuit team escaped the winter chill by traveling to Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico, to photograph nine incredible women for the 2026 SI Swimsuit Issue.”
SI also noted that “it is finally time to reveal the models who were photographed there for this year’s publication. With two rookies and seven familiar faces in the mix, Haley Baylee, Lauren Chan, Jocelyn Corona, Olivia Dunne, Bethenny Frankel, Ilona Maher, Hunter McGrady, Brooks Nader and Molly Sims each posed for the issue in Loreto.”
With an annual project that “is shaping up to be better than ever before,” check out Maher’s contribution to this year’s SI Swimsuit Issue.
This Is Maher’s 3rd Consecutive Shoot for the SI Swimsuit Issue
Social media users got a glimpse at Maher in the 2026 Swimsuit issue when Sports Illustrated posted a photo of the star on Instagram.
This year, Maher posed for the swimsuit issue with wet hair and slightly (and perfectly) dramatic makeup while kneeling in shallow water on a beach. In the image, she’s wearing a black bikini as well as a matching see-through mesh top that featured long sleeves that were pulled down around her upper arms, leaving her shoulders bare.
“Following her September 2024 digital issue cover, Maher posed for last year’s print magazine in Bermuda, where she was photographed by Ben Watts,” per SI. “This year’s feature in Mexico marks the Olympic athlete’s third consecutive shoot for SI Swimsuit.”
“A Vermont native, Maher is a Team USA rugby sevens bronze medalist and two-time Olympian who just so happens to also be a social media powerhouse,” SI adds. “The former Dancing With the Stars contestant has also been named to the TIME100 Creators List, Sports Illustrated’s 100 Most Influential Athletes and the Forbes 30 Under 30.”
Fans Love Ilona’s 2026 SI Swimsuit Photo
GettyWhen Sports Illustrated shared the photo of Maher on Instagram, fans were quick to fill the comments with compliments and adoring messages.
“Holy moly!!!!!!!!!! Ilona!!!! Are u kidding me 🔥,” one person wrote.
Another fan added, “Stunning! 🔥❤️”
“No but like, how are you so hot it’s unfair,” came from a third social media user.
Someone else left a comment, writing, “😍😍😍 PERFECTION! 👑🔥🙌 “
While fellow SI swimsuit model Lauren Chan claimed that “this is THE shot!!!”
