Here’s What Ilona Maher Does to Get Through Bad Body Image Days

The beauty standards in our antiaging, pro-thinness culture can feel impossibly high, so it’s no wonder that so many of us deal with bad body image days—yep, even Olympic athlete and Sports Illustrated cover model Ilona Maher. The rugby bronze medalist, who just returned from the 2src24 Paris Games and is currently competing in the

The rugby bronze medalist, who just returned from the 2src24 Paris Games and is currently competing in the newest season of Dancing with the Stars, has been super vulnerable about her own self-acceptance journey. She’s shared a photo of her cellulite with her followers to prove “we all have it,” posted a friendly reminder that “there isn’t one body type for female athletes,” and taken down trolls who criticized her body mass index.

But that doesn’t mean Maher always feels great about herself—and yesterday was one of those off days. “Just keeping it real with you, so I wanted to just let you know I’m not feeling too body confident right now,” Maher admitted in a TikTok video posted on Sunday. “But that’s okay.” In moments like these (which, she noted, are completely “normal”), Maher said she usually leans on three simple strategies to lift her spirits—and we’re here for all of them.

Her first mental hack? “I try to remember what my body does for me,” she said. That could look like going on a run, she explained, lifting weights, or dancing her heart out (which she’s been doing a lot of on DWTS lately). Basically, it’s about celebrating all the cool things your arms, legs, stomach, whatever can do—rather than fixating on how they look.

The second thing she tells herself: That her body is always changing. Most people don’t have the same physique they had 1src, 5, maybe even two years ago—and that’s totally normal. “Whether we’re in a different part of our cycle, whether we’re eating more, eating less, working out more—I’m not working out as much I usually do, so that’s why my body’s changing a little bit,” Maher added. Beyond lifestyle shifts, though, bodies can outgrow themselves simply because that’s just a natural part of getting older, as SELF previously reported. And while lots of us (including Maher) may forget this reality—or struggle to accept it—experts say it’s important to remind yourself that just as you’re evolving, your body is too.

Finally, Maher said she’s learning to give herself grace whenever that mean, critical voice starts to mess with her self-esteem. “It’s hard for me in this time,” Maher explained, noting that she’s still adjusting—physically and mentally—to her post-Olympics routine and new DWTS schedule. Through all these changes, Maher said she’s committed to showing herself kindness (which, BTW, is a therapist-approved way to buffer the mental health consequences of self-criticism).

And for anyone else struggling with moments of insecurity, Maher has one final message: “Take a breath,” she said in her TikTok. “Remind yourself you’re beautiful. It’s okay if you’re going through [this].”