“It’s hard to always love your body and think it’s so great,” Maher says. “Even I have a problem with that.”

What does she do then?

1. She tries to remember what her body does for her and how strong it is. She says, “Whether I’m going to walk or run, I’m going to lift weights, I’m going to dance.”
2. She remembers that “our bodies are constantly changing and will continue to change for the rest of our lives.”
3. She gives herself some grace. Maher knows her workout routine “has been off” since she competed in the Olympics and switched to “DWTS.”
4. Finally, she takes a breath and reminds herself that she is beautiful. “It’s okay to go through this. It’s going to be ups and downs for the rest of your life,” she says.

She concluded by saying that she loves everyone and thanking people “for their love for me.”

At the Olympic Games in Paris, Maher and her team won their first Olympic medal in rugby sevens, taking bronze.

Maher went viral for her hilarious TikToks about life in the Olympic “Villa,” which parodied “Love Island.” She also posted, and continues to post, body-positive videos, raw and candid clips about bullying, and most recently, her experience rehearsing for “DWTS” with partner Alan Bersten.

In August, Maher graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, and in the accompanying interview, she talked about what being a rugby player has taught her about herself.

“I think it’s great that (rugby) has shown me what I can do,” Maher told the magazine. “It’s shown me how capable my body is and that it’s not just a tool to look at and objectify.”