Ilona Maher Makes Emmys 2024 Debut in a Peplum Gown So Good, You Have to See It from All Angles

The rugby player wore the look with her signature red lip — then changed into an equally dramatic gown for the broadcast itself

Ilona Maher's Emmys debut was totally golden.

The Olympic rugby player, 28, stepped onto the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards red carpet on Sept. 15 looking glamorous.

She wore a strapless midnight blue velvet peplum gown accessorized with statement drop earrings, rings and bracelets. Her glam consisted of a curled updo with face-framing pieces and her signature bold red lip (a given).

While dominating the carpet in her bombshell look, Maher stopped to chat with PEOPLE and revealed who she thinks deserves an Emmy. "Everybody on Love Island should be nominated for an Emmy with the drama and the absolute sizzle they bring to the screen," she joked.

Related: The Best Style Moments at the 2024 Emmy Awards

But not content to stun in just one look, the upcoming Dancing with the Stars competitor changed into a liquid-effect violet gown with a sculptural bodice, which she wore when she and other Olympic athletes were brought onstage during one of the category announcements.

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Since returning home from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, where she led Team USA to its first bronze medal, Maher has very much been on a roll.

In August, she made her Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debut. “I was always like, you know, called masculine or whatever," Maher told the outlet. "But I never felt that way. But I don't think you're going to bully the girl who could probably beat you up in a rage. I love that [rugby] showed me what I can do. It showed me how capable my body is and it's not just like a tool to be looked at and objectified.”

Related: 2024 Emmy Awards: Early Winners, Cute Moments and More Live Updates

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One month later, she was announced as a contestant on season 33 of Dancing with the Stars, returning on Sept. 17. She will be competing for the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy with Alan Bersten.

See PEOPLE's full coverage of the 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards as they're broadcasting live on ABC from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

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