Tennis superstar Serena Williams was recently honored as a ‘fashion icon’ at a major fashion industry event. The Council of Fashion Designers of America awards recognized Williams for her significant contributions to American fashion. During her acceptance speech, Williams shared how fashion became a means of self-expression for her while growing up in the public eye. She described the tennis court as her personal runway and the U.S. Open as her own version of New York Fashion Week. Williams expressed that reimagining traditional tennis outfits allowed her to showcase her individuality, confidence, and cultural identity.
Williams, who retired from tennis last year, made history as the first athlete to receive the Fashion Icon award. The award was presented to her by Kim Kardashian, who was honored by the CFDA last year. Kardashian praised Williams as fearless, heroic, authentic, and iconic, referring to her as the greatest of all time.
The CFDA awards, often referred to as the fashion industry’s equivalent of Oscar night, took place at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. The event was hosted by Anne Hathaway. Catherine Holstein, the designer behind the label Khaite, won the prestigious womenswear designer of the year award. Willy Chavarria, known for creating looks worn by celebrities like Bad Bunny and Venus Williams, received the menswear award. The accessories award went to Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen, the talented duo behind the label The Row.
After retiring from tennis, Williams made the difficult decision to prioritize motherhood. She welcomed her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in August of last year. Williams expressed her love for expressing creativity on the tennis court, recalling how she designed skirts out of denim, wore purple tutus and bodysuits, and adorned her hair with beads and braids. She described it as a fun time in her life.
Throughout her tennis career, Williams also pursued her passion for fashion. In 2018, she launched her own clothing line called ‘S by Serena,’ which aimed to inspire women of all sizes, races, and incomes to embrace their bodies and love themselves. During her speech, Williams expressed gratitude to her mother for sewing her first tennis outfits when she was young. Watching her mother sew sparked her creativity, which she still carries with her today.
The CFDA awards are presented by Amazon Fashion.