Move over, Simone Biles! There’s a new athlete enthralling viewers turning into the 2024 Paris Olympics. These two fabulous ladies can co-exist, but only one of them has fans begging ABC to make them the next Bachelorette. Simone Biles is off the market after marrying football player Jonathan Owens in 2023. Keep reading for more about the Olympic athlete fans want to see on the ABC dating show.
Fans Demand Paris 2024 Olympic Sensation As Next Bachelorette
The 2024 Olympic Summer Games kicked off last week and viewers in the U.S. are glued to their screens. The events air non-stop on NBC, Peacock streaming and other TV channels. Simone Biles led the USA gymnastics team to gold again. But another athlete is gaining attention for her skill on the rugby pitch.
Ilona Maher, 27, is a Vermont native currently going viral on social media for her stunning performance at the 2024 Olympics. She helped the US women’s rugby team win their first Olympic medal earlier this week.
One of her biggest fans took to TikTok to nominate Maher for the next star of ABC’s dating show The Bachelorette. Season 21 of the Bachelor spinoff is currently airing with Jenn Tran hoping to find her future husband. The show has yet to be renewed for another season, but it is highly likely it will return for Season 22 next summer.
@tayylorr229 @Ilona Maher you need to be the next bachelorette #greenscreen #ilonamaher #abc #bachelorette #abcbachelorette
Bachelor Nation fans took to Reddit to share their thoughts on the idea. The majority was a huge NO, but not for the reason you’d think. “ABSOLUTELY NOT. She deserves so much better than these men that come on the show for clout,” one person wrote.
Ilona Maher Speaks Out After Rude Comments About Appearance
Despite now being an Olympic medalist, Ilona Maher has had to deal with online trolls since she became front and center on the field.
A TikTok she made in 2022 went viral last week. The athlete confessed that she had been crying about some cruel comments about her appearance. She shared that haters had been questioning if she’s taking steroids and some even accused her of being a man.
However, she had a heartfelt message to the women and girls out there despite the hurtful messages. She encouraged her followers not to let anyone else dictate how they felt about their bodies.
@ilonamaher Never tone it down. Take up space. Be yourself. Love, Ilona.
Bachelor Nation fans have been clamoring for years to have a woman on the show who doesn’t have a supermodel body, but it’s unlikely to happen anytime soon. Perhaps Ilona Maher will follow in Simone Biles’ steps and compete on the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars.
