Ilona Maher recounts 'insane' experience of nail salon workers wanting her to protect them from customer

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Rugby star Ilona Maher, who won a bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, shared her experience of a recent trip to the nail salon that took an unexpected twist, turning her into an unwitting hero for the evening.

The Olympic rugby player recounted the incident in a lighthearted “storytime” TikTok, sharing how she ended up playing an impromptu role as protector for the salon staff, according to People. 

Maher describes her suspenseful 'extra half-hour' at the salon

As Maher, 28, settled in for a relaxing pedicure, the salon gradually emptied, leaving her as the only remaining customer alongside two female staff members.

But soon, a man entered and requested a pedicure, joining Maher in the otherwise quiet salon.

“As I was in there, employees were leaving, all the customers were gone, it was just me and two ladies,” she recalled.

“But as I was getting it done, this guy walks in and asks for a pedicure as well, so they sit him down, and we’re both getting worked on.”

Opting for regular polish rather than her usual gel, Maher didn’t immediately think much of the extra drying time.

However, the salon staff repeatedly asked her to “wait, wait” as if there were more to it. “I wait there for, no joke, an extra half hour,” she said, recalling the unexpected delay.

Only once the man finally left did the staff reveal their real motivation for keeping her around. “And then they said, ‘Sorry we kept you so long, we just wanted you to be here with us while he was there,’” Maher shared.

Understanding dawned on Maher, and she was quick to empathize: “And I was like, I totally understood then why they did that.”

But her story didn’t end there.

Suspicious man asked Ilona Maher to accompany her home

Ilona Maher later ran into the man outside the salon, where he audaciously asked if he could accompany her home - a request she firmly declined. “It’s insane out there,” Maher remarked.

She went on to express her support for the salon staff’s caution, saying, “And I want you to know you can keep me for as long as you want, you can keep me for another hour, I’ll cancel my plans if you want me for safety or you want somebody there just to be a presence."

"It’s dangerous out there," she added. 

Her unique night ended with a well-deserved treat, as she shared, “I was treating myself to mozzarella sticks and wine since I did my vigilante stuff tonight.”

Wrapping up her story, Maher left her followers with a word of caution: “Seriously, stay safe, ladies.”

Viewers praise Ilona Maher for her 'help'

Fans had plenty to say about the recent viral encounter, with viewers both impressed and cautious about the unexpected face-off.

A viewer expressed, "Put in "danger" without her knowledge or approval. dude could have had a gun and nefarious intentions."

In a similar fashion, another observer added, "Wow, that girl is intense ... Right, people?"

Furthermore, a viewer pointed out, "Who wants to mess with a middle linebacker?"

Joining the discussion, a follower shared, "Ilona Maher is a national treasure!!!!!"

A remark underscored, "I don't think it would be a good idea to mess with this woman."

A comment underscored, "Good job sticking around. And yep, there are a lot of sick tickets out there."

Another comment echoed, "Good job Ilona. People need to remember we, all the good people, are in this together. Help when you can."

One comment stated, "Cool. Good looking out for each other!"

Another comment read, "She is a class act."