Ilona Maher wows at 2026 ESPYS in a TJ Maxx cutout gown
Ilona Maher stole the 2026 ESPYS red carpet on July 15 in a white Retrofête cutout gown sourced from TJ Maxx. The Olympic rugby star, 29, wore the silver-embellished strapless design with smoky glam and metallic platform sandals, proving discount-store fashion can compete at Lincoln Center while reinforcing her Maxxinista brand partnership.
Key Takeaways
- Ilona Maher wore a white Retrofête gown with a silver sequined bandeau top and cutout, purchased from TJ Maxx.
- The 29-year-old Olympic rugby player attended the July 15 ceremony at New York City's Lincoln Center in the rain.
- Maher brought her mom as her date; both wore coordinated silver-accented evening looks.
- The appearance reinforces her TJ Maxx partnership and You Sponsored co-sponsor role from 2025.
- Maher told USA Sports' Renee Montgomery the dress was from T.J. Maxx—and that the red carpet was very wet.
What did Ilona Maher wear to the 2026 ESPYS red carpet?
Breakthrough athlete, internet icon and certified red carpet showstopper Ilona Maher delivered another style win at the 2026 ESPY Awards. The Team USA rugby star, 29, stepped out in a striking white column gown with a cutout beneath a silver embellished bandeau top, as reported by People.
E! News identified the dress as a Retrofête design featuring a silver sequined bandeau bra top, an eye-catching cutout and a long white skirt. Maher completed the look with sleek, straight hair, smoky glam makeup, long sparkly drop earrings and metallic platform sandals.
It was a head-turning strapless design that highlighted the athletic build Maher has said she prefers to show off. In a Sports Illustrated interview published earlier in July, she noted she gravitates toward pieces that "highlight my arms and shoulders" rather than oversized silhouettes.
Why did Ilona Maher choose a TJ Maxx gown for the ESPYS?
The headline-grabbing detail is where Maher found the dress: TJ Maxx. A self-proclaimed "Maxxinista," the Olympian is a longtime fan of the discount retailer and partnered with the brand last year on its You Sponsored program, which aims to help bring dynamic partnerships to all women.
At the time of that partnership, Maher told People she was excited to work with TJ Maxx because the brand looks for "true originals." "And I'm a Maxxinista," she added. "I love shopping at TJ Maxx, so this has been a beautiful partnership."
After braving the rain outside Lincoln Center, Maher exclusively told USA Sports' Renee Montgomery at the July 15 show, "This is T.J. Maxx, and yes, it is very wet." She added, "What a night!" and called it "so cool to be in a room of such greatness" among like-minded individuals who want to be great.
Who joined Ilona Maher at the 2026 ESPY Awards?
Maher brought her mom as her date to the ceremony held at Lincoln Center in New York City. Her mother wore a long silver sequin gown that complemented her daughter's look, creating a coordinated mother-daughter moment on the carpet.
The Dancing With the Stars alum has made the ESPYS a recurring fashion stage. Last year she accepted the Best Breakthrough Athlete Award in a daring black gown with a plunging neckline that dipped past her belly button, keeping accessories minimal with strappy black heels, gold hoops and a fierce red lip.
During that acceptance speech, she declared, "Strong is beautiful, strong is powerful, it's sexy, it's whatever you want it to be," using the spotlight to thank her teammates, credit her family and advocate for women's sports. For more awards-show coverage, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
How does Maher's 2026 look fit her red carpet evolution?
Maher's ESPYS appearances have tracked her rise from Olympic breakout to mainstream celebrity. Since dominating the Olympics with unfiltered behind-the-scenes content and championing body positivity, she has become an internet icon who does not shy from bold fashion choices.
"People will always have opinions," Maher told E! News, "and, honestly, I'm not everyone's cup of tea." That confidence showed again in the cutout TJ Maxx gown—affordable, on-brand and unmistakably Ilona Maher on one of sports television's biggest nights.