Serena Williams may dominate tennis courts around the world, but stepping in front of the camera for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit proved to be an even bigger challenge for her.
After being honored as SI’s 2015 Sportsperson of the Year—the first woman in over three decades and the first Black woman ever to win the award outright—Williams used her acceptance speech to confront the criticism and body shaming she’s faced throughout her career. “I’ve been judged for not looking like others, for my skin color, for being a woman. Critics even doubted I could win more titles when I only had seven. Now here I stand with 21 Grand Slams and still going strong,” she said at the time.
Now, Serena has returned to SI, shutting down critics once more and proving that strength and confidence are beautiful.
In an interview with Swim Daily, she opened up about fashion, body image, and the nerves behind her second swimsuit shoot.
On designing swimsuits: Williams admitted she’s thought about it but says the market is so competitive that she prefers to keep her focus on ready-to-wear fashion for now.
Her favorite swimsuits: She feels sexy in a two-piece but loves that one-pieces are having a comeback.
Body diversity in modeling: Serena believes the media is finally celebrating all body types, which has encouraged women everywhere to embrace their natural selves.
Why she returned to SI: Encouraged by her friend Caroline Wozniacki and SI editor MJ Day, Serena decided it was the right time to come back.
On nerves: Surprisingly, she admitted that posing for SI was even more intimidating than playing in front of thousands at the US Open because of the brand’s iconic legacy.
Her role models: Her mother and sister top the list, but she considers any woman with the courage to be herself a role model.
Training for the shoot: To prepare, Serena cut back on carbs and ramped up her cardio workouts, saying she had to be extra disciplined.
The shoot itself: She called it both amazing and demanding, paying close attention to every pose and angle.
