When you watch Ilona Maher command the rugby field or effortlessly conquer the salsa (in heels!) on the Dancing with the Stars ballroom or walk down the catwalk in a barely there swimsuit like it's her own personal sidewalk, you might ask yourself: What makes her so confident? Well, the 28-year-old Olympian tells PEOPLE that a combo of things contribute to her strong sense of self, and that starts with a routine. "I love getting a little workout in whenever I can. Sometimes I have to wake up early. That's really tough for me, but I love moving my body in any way," Maher tells PEOPLE. "For me, it's important to see what your body's capable of — and to enjoy it. Have the drink, have the appetizer or whatever it is. Have a hot girl summer." The House of Maher podcaster says that throwing on a cute outfit doesn't hurt either. "Wear things that make you feel empowered, that make you feel like yourself." Yet, when asked exactly what her top tip is to confidence, the athlete's first answer goes beyond skin-deep. "Have the best people around you," she encourages. The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Community is huge in Maher's world, which is why she partnered with TJ Maxx and its new You Sponsored program, a mission that "brings dynamic sponsorships to everyday women for being exactly who they already are," per a press release from the retailer. According to the brand, fewer than 10% of women are backed my sponsors and this initiative was created to award 10 women custom deals to amplify their dreams through opportunity (recipients will receive $20,000 in funding), connections and visibility. Maher was signed on as one of the co-sponsors alongside pianist Chloe Flower, Broadway star and singer Renée Elise Goldsberry, hairstylist Jen Atkin and designer Carly Cushnie. The group will work with the winners — or True Originals as the brand calls them — throughout You Sponsored, which was celebrated with all five co-sponsors at an event hosted in New York City on June 5. "I'm so excited to work with TJ Maxx because they're looking for true originals and that's someone I think of myself as. I love to be authentic and we're looking for people who are themselves in a world that tells them maybe not to," Maher said. "And I'm a Maxxinista. I love shopping at TJ Maxx, so this has been a beautiful partnership." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Maher's uplifting personality shines through the screen as much as it does in person. Whether she's advocating for body positivity or having genuine (and very much heart-melting) one-on-ones with her younger fans (watch this clip of her bonding over lipstick with an aspiring rugby player), Maher is, as Gen Z says, a girls' girl. "I have two sisters. I have a mom and an aunt who are just the best. And for me, the girls have made me who I am. It's my teammates, it's my coaches who have truly just given me the confidence to be myself. So I love my girls. I would be nothing without them."