Ilona Maher Opens Up About Possibly Becoming The Next ‘Bachelorette’

Ilona Maher, the Olympic rugby star celebrated for her wit and charisma both on the field and online, has recently hinted at an interest in exploring reality television.

The 28-year-old, who skyrocketed to fame through her rugby skills and social media presence, is single and seemingly ready to step into the dating scene. After her appearance on "Dancing With the Stars"on Tuesday, October 29, Ilona opened up about her love life and the possibility of searching for romance on national television.

When asked whether she would consider taking on the role of the next lead on "The Bachelorette," Ilona Maher didn’t hold back.

In an interview with "Good Morning America," she playfully teased the notion, admitting, “That's what we were thinking!”

Though she expressed some hesitation about stepping into the limelight in such a new way, the Olympian ultimately left the decision up to the fans. “I’ll take that on. I will do that for America if that's what you wanna see,” she added.

So, what is she looking for in a man if she is cast? She said, "I think somebody who is very proud of me, who is kind, who understands my humor, who is ready to eat..."

"You're listing a lot of things about me," her dance partner, Alan Bersten, added, to which Ilona jokingly said, "Please stop talking."

While Ilona Maher waits for potential suitors to slide into her DMs, she can’t help but gush at the responses she’s getting.

“It’s all very positive moms that are like, ‘I love what you’ve done for my daughter,’ and I’m like, ‘Where’s the NFL players? I thought there’d be more. No billionaires in here?’” she quipped when speaking with People Magazine.  Though she hasn’t tried dating apps yet, Ilona isn’t entirely opposed to exploring them in the future.

As for what she’s seeking in a partner, the Olympian values someone who can match her sharp wit. “I recently was told by a man, ‘You flirt by making fun,’” she admits, explaining her love for the back-and-forth of playful banter. “I think it’s also just like I flirt, and then you come back with something, and it’s like a back-and-forth that I really like.”

Above all, she hopes to find a partner confident enough to keep up with her incredible achievements and embrace her ambitious nature. “I've never really had somebody who's come to my rugby games,” she said. “Somebody who’s really proud to see me shine and wants me to keep growing — someone who shows me off."

Last month, the Olympian shared a video on social media with the caption, “Can I be vulnerable for a minute?”

In the clip, she sported a two-piece bathing suit, but admitted, “You know I like to keep it real with you, so I just wanted to let you know I’m not feeling too body confident right now. I think I’m making this video more to help myself out."

Inviting internet scrutiny, as she did with her nationally broadcast tears, is often a risky gamble for mental health. While Ilona is grateful for the doors social media has opened, she remains cautious about its potential toll on her well-being.

"It's amazing how much love I get online, but then, of course, I always get the negatives,” she admitted to People.”I get people making assumptions about me, about my body, about who I am, sometimes just spreading blatant lies about me, and that's hard."

When speaking to People Magazine, Ilona opened up about what the future holds, revealing that she's up for anything that comes next.

“I hope it means I'm still in this space and I can travel, and I hope my sisters come along with me to do it. I hope there's still sports in there and maybe some dance, but not too much dance," she joked.

Maher is also hopeful that love lies somewhere in her future. "I love platonic love. I love the love I have with my teammates, with my friends, my sisters. Romantic love would be great too."

But for now, "I'm just riding this wave, I guess, and seeing where it takes me."