Serena Williams, the tennis legend, was recently honored as a ‘fashion icon’ at the big awards night of the fashion industry. She shared her journey of using fashion as a mode of expression while growing up in the public eye. According to Williams, the tennis court became her runway, and the U.S. Open was her own New York Fashion Week. She expressed that reimagining the traditional tennis outfit was a way for her to showcase her individuality, confidence, and culture.
The Fashion Icon award was presented to Williams by Kim Kardashian, making her the first athlete to receive this prestigious award. The event, which is the fashion industry’s equivalent of Oscar night, took place at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and was hosted by Anne Hathaway.
In addition to Williams’ recognition, several other top designers and personalities were honored at the event. Catherine Holstein of the label Khaite was named womenswear designer of the year, while Willy Chavarria won for menswear. The award for accessories went to Ashley Olsen and Mary-Kate Olsen of the label The Row. Gwyneth Paltrow accepted the Innovation award for her lifestyle brand, goop, and Vanessa Hudgens presented a tribute to Vera Wang for her impact on the bridal industry.
The event also featured a tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, a short film by director Hype Williams, and music by Pharrell. Williams, who retired from tennis last year, spoke about her decision to focus on motherhood after giving birth to her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in August. She fondly recalled her creative expressions on the tennis court, mentioning how she designed skirts out of denim, wore purple tutus and bodysuits, and put beads in her hair and braids.
During her speech, Williams highlighted her passion for fashion and her dedication to inspiring women to embrace their bodies and love who they are, regardless of their size, race, or income. She also expressed gratitude to her mother for making her first tennis outfits, which sparked her creativity.
The CFDA awards, presented by Amazon Fashion, also recognized Alina Cho, Domenico De Sole, Mara Hoffman, and Jonathan Anderson for their contributions to the fashion industry.