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Dublin: 11 °C Friday 15 November, 2024

Serena Williams opened up about her struggles with being body positive when she was younger

At one point in 2004 she set herself a goal of being a size 4.

SERENA WILLIAMS HAS already had a killer week as she came back to tennis in the French Open and absolutely killed it in a black body suit.

Liewig Christian / ABACA Liewig Christian / ABACA / ABACA

She’s also gracing the cover of July’s issue of Harper’s Bazzar (looking INCREDIBLE it should be said) and she’s been speaking about her struggles with her body.

People would say I was born a guy, all because of my arms, or because I’m strong. I was different to Venus: she was thin and tall and beautiful, and I am strong and muscular – and beautiful, but, you know, it was just totally different.

Given that many people’s favourite insult to chuck at Serena is that her body is ‘mannish’ it’s easy to see why she struggled with it.

Serena has said before that she doesn’t read anything that’s written about her but she did write a list of goals in 2004 such as winning Wimbeldon and the French Open. Another one of those goals was to reach a size 4 which she later realised she couldn’t do. She’s come to terms with it though and says she’s better for it.

This is me, and this is my weapon and machine. But I love that I said that, because I can understand. I can show Olympia that I struggled, but now I’m happy with who I am and what I am and what I look like.

Speaking of her daughter, Serena who was pregnant when she won the Australian open said she knew she was having a girl.

I knew I was having a girl, because when I was playing tennis in the  tournament, I didn’t have one day of morning sickness, no symptoms. Australia is really hot, some days can be over 40 degrees, which is insane, but she never complained. I said to Alexis, “This is a girl. Only a woman can be this strong.

It sounds like Olympia will be just as strong as her mother. Serena won’t force her to play tennis either but she does want her to do French, Mandarin and ballet. No pressure baby Olympia.

I want to let her do whatever she wants to do, as long as it’s positive. Always try to be an addition to society, not a subtraction.

PREACH SERENA.

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Author
Rachel O'Neill
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