Serena Williams Receives Fashion Icon Award at CFDA Ceremony

Tennis legend Serena Williams, who retired from tennis last year, made a dazzling appearance at the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Fashion Awards, where she was honored with the Fashion Icon award. This marked a historic moment, as Williams became the first athlete to receive this prestigious fashion accolade.

During her acceptance speech at the ceremony held at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and hosted by Anne Hathaway, Serena Williams shared her journey of using fashion as a means of self-expression. She reflected on her childhood and how she recognized her uniqueness at a young age. Williams revealed that fashion and style became her chosen tools for distinguishing herself, with the tennis court serving as her personal runway. She likened the U.S. Open to her very own New York Fashion Week, where she reimagined traditional tennis attire to express her individuality, confidence, and cultural identity.

Kim Kardashian, a former CFDA honoree, had the privilege of presenting the Fashion Icon award to Serena Williams. She described Williams as “fearless, heroic, authentic, and iconic—the greatest of all time.”

Serena Williams, now 42, retired from tennis to prioritize motherhood. She gave birth to her second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, in August, exactly one year after her last tennis match. In her speech, she fondly recalled her creative journey on the tennis court, experimenting with denim skirts, purple tutus, bodysuits, and various hairstyles, reflecting on the fun she had.

Williams’ passion for fashion extended beyond the tennis court. She studied fashion during her playing career and, in 2018, launched her own clothing line called “S by Serena.” The line’s mission, as she mentioned in her speech, is to inspire women to embrace their bodies and love themselves, regardless of their size, race, or income.

She expressed her gratitude to her mother for sewing her first tennis outfits, crediting her with instilling creativity in her that continues to shape her identity. The CFDA Fashion Awards, presented by Amazon Fashion, also recognized other influential figures in the industry, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Vera Wang, and Maria Cornejo, among others.

The CFDA ceremony celebrated the convergence of fashion and individuality, with Serena Williams emerging as a trailblazing Fashion Icon, demonstrating that the runway can be found beyond the confines of a traditional catwalk.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Hindustan Times