Tennis legend Serena Williams has been bestowed with the title of fashion icon by the Council of Fashion Designers of America. This recognition was conferred upon her at a ceremony in New York on Monday night, marking a historic moment as Williams becomes the first athlete to receive this prestigious award. The list of prior recipients includes illustrious artists such as Beyonce, Zendaya, and Rihanna.
At the event, Serena Williams shared her perspective with the media, saying, “I delved into the realm of fashion and style as a means to set myself apart. In many ways, the tennis courts transformed into my personal runway.”
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion graced the red carpet at the American Museum of Natural History, adorned in a custom-made black sequin dress crafted by CFDA Chairman Thom Browne.
This event is widely regarded as the fashion industry’s equivalent of the Oscars. The 2023 CFDA Fashion Icon Award was presented to Williams by none other than the fashion mogul and television personality Kim Kardashian.
Among the distinguished attendees were prominent figures like Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, as well as musical artists Mary J Blige and Vanessa Hudgens.
During her acceptance speech, Serena Williams expressed her passion for fashion and its significance on the tennis court. She reminisced, “I designed skirts out of denim and I wore purple tutus and bodysuits and put beads in my hair, and braids. It was truly an enjoyable period for me.”
Williams has been a diligent student of fashion, even pursuing fashion studies in the intervals between her Grand Slam tournaments. In 2018, she launched her own clothing line, S by Serena.
In a 2019 interview with Essence magazine, Williams highlighted the essence of her clothing line, stating that her garments “represent women everywhere – indomitable mothers, daughters, and sisters; resilient businesswomen and entrepreneurs; outsiders and underdogs; little girls with audacious dreams and unyielding women of color.”
Although Serena Williams officially retired from professional tennis in 2022 at the US Open in New York, she has hinted at a possible return, stating, “I am not retired,” and that “the chances (of a comeback) are very high.”
During the awards ceremony on Monday, Williams expressed her gratitude to numerous individuals, reserving a special acknowledgment for her mother, stating, “Watching her sew ignited this creative spirit within me, a spirit that still burns brightly within me to this day.”
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