Serena Williams is one of the most transcendent athletes of all time, with an incredible 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name. But beyond her accomplishments on the tennis court, the 42-year-old Williams is also making waves as an entrepreneur with the launch of her new makeup line Wyn Beauty. In an exclusive interview, Williams opened up about one of her most important roles – being a mother raising her two young daughters to embrace body positivity.
Williams and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, are parents to 6-year-old Olympia and 7-month-old Adira. The tennis legend says instilling confidence and self-love in her girls from an early age is of paramount importance. Her approach? Lead by example and keep the compliments flowing, especially between young girls.
“For me, it’s super crucial that they love themselves and their bodies no matter what they look like,” Williams stated. “I nurture that positivity by encouraging them to compliment others, particularly other little girls. If I see a girl in their class, I’ll say ‘Oh, doesn’t she look pretty? I like her hair.’ And Olympia will chime in with her own compliments.”
“It doesn’t matter what someone looks like – if you can find something positive about them, then you’re going to be able to find the positive in yourself too. And that’s how you win at body confidence.”
Williams’ candid attitude about her own body journey has endeared her to fans worldwide. In January, she posted a relatable video of herself humorously struggling to slide into a skintight Valentino denim skirt. “I am working towards my goal. I’m gonna fit that skirt soon!” the 7-time Wimbledon champ declared. “It’s important just to be honest. I don’t consider myself any different from anyone else – I’m going through the same struggles.”
The iconic athlete’s commitment to keeping it real has been on full display throughout her pregnancy journeys as well. While expecting Adira, her second child, Williams was open about her body’s incredible transformation. “I don’t consider myself a thing different from any other person trying to lose weight,” she remarked last year. “Whether you’re covering Grand Slams or you’re covering everyday life, we’re all going through the same thing.”
That spirit of inclusivity is core to Williams’ new Wyn Beauty brand. After years of conceptualizing her ideal makeup line suited for an active lifestyle, the multi-tasking mogul has brought her vision to life with products like soft matte concealer, waterproof liquid eyeliner, brow pencils and satin lipsticks. The plant-based, clean formulas are available now on the company’s website and at ULTA beauty retailers.
“I’ve actually been working on this for over six years,” Williams revealed. “It’s not something that just kinda happened – I really put in the hours behind-the-scenes to make it a reality.”
Relentless hard work and determination have been hallmarks of Williams’ extraordinary career since her humble beginnings as a young prodigy in Compton, California. Those same qualities allowed her makeup dream to persevere through pandemic-induced delays and other obstacles.
“For me, I’m more active now as a mom, business woman and entrepreneur than I’ve ever been,” the 4-time Olympic gold medalist stated. “I love looking glam, but I can’t necessarily go to the grocery store or pick up my daughter from school with a full face on. It doesn’t suit my everyday lifestyle anymore.”
And that’s the core concept driving Wyn Beauty’s product development – creating high-performance makeup for high-performance women. “One of our main focuses is investing in the everyday lives of everyday people,” Williams explained. “I was thinking about makeup for that everyday woman. As much as I love my full glam look, I need something easy that I can put on in 10 minutes but still look and feel my best all day.”
With her new daughter Adira in tow, 6-year-old Olympia is already taking on the role of dutiful big sister. “She loves it,” the doting mom gushed last year. “She prayed for a little sister, so she’s been really happy.”
No doubt having a younger sibling to dote on will only amplify the positive messaging about body image and self-worth that Williams is imparting on her girls. The trailblazing champion is ensuring her own Principal Principles are passed down to the next generation.
“They already think they’re pro players,” Williams laughed about her daughters’ budding interests. And why shouldn’t they dream big? Their supermom has shown them that nothing is impossible with the right mindset. For Serena Williams, that mindset is all about keeping it real, working hard, and spreading more positivity than negativity.
“You have to find the positives in everything,” she advised. “That’s how you move forward and make the most out of every situation.” Words to live by from an undisputed champion both on and off the court.
