Serena Williams: Tennis-star, entrepreneur, activist, mother and more
Serena Williams: Tennis-champion, entrepreneur, activist, mother, and the list goes on. Does this woman stop to even breathe? From being an international tennis-player at the tender age of 14 to now being a mother, holding 39 major titles, being an entrepreneur and activist, Serena has achieved much more than one hopes to do in a lifetime. Let's decode the many shades of Serena Williams.
Why are we talking about Serena Williams today?
On being the runner-up of Wimbledon-2018, Serena gave a powerful message in her interview. Addressing the mothers of the world, she said, "All the moms out there, I was playing for you today." She may have lost the tournament, but stands tall as an icon for women worldwide. Playing the tournament so soon post-maternity was remarkable in itself, reaching the finals was completely unreal.
Serena Williams, the tennis champion
Serena won her first US Open at the age of 18 in 1999. In 2002, she realized every tennis player's dream when she completed the "Serena Slam", winning four Grand-Slam titles, Wimbledon, the US Open, the French Open and the Australian Open a year later in 2003. Her 23 (singles) Grand-Slam titles mark her record for the most wins by a tennis player in the Open-Era.
Serena Williams, the entrepreneur
In 2016-17, Serena bagged $27 million from prize money and endorsements. According to Forbes, it is twice the total of any female athlete's earnings in the world. Her commendable business acumen is evident in her multiple-investments and her own clothing-line, Aneres. Serena and her sister, Venus are also the first African-American women to hold ownership in the NFL franchise.
Black Lives Matter, education, charity and Serena Williams
Serena is also pretty vocal about her social stand on media. Openly voicing her support for the 'Black Lives Matter' movement, she expressed her concern about discrimination on the basis of color in the US. Actively working towards education, she funded the construction of schools in Kenya and Jamaica. The Serena Williams Foundation also provides university scholarships to underprivileged kids in the US.
"Being Serena"
Serena will stop at nothing and that's why we love her. After winning 39 Grand Slam titles and being the richest female athlete in the world, she brought her private and professional life in the Open, for the HBO documentary, "Being Serena". "Being Serena" unfurls her fears, anxieties, happiness, love and passion for tennis, for her fans.
Serena Williams, writing and entertainment
Serena and Venus, along with the author Hilary Beard, wrote a book called, "Venus & Serena: Serving from the hip: 10 Rules for Living, Loving and Winning". Having appeared in many films and television shows, she just goes on to prove there is nothing she can't do.
Finally, why do we need women like her?
Serena Williams is an icon for the world at large. She deals with the challenges of motherhood like any other new-mom, with pressures of performing, helps the community, runs her businesses and stands tall by her beliefs. Being an African-American, female, athlete and a mother, she has broken not one but multiple-stereotypes. She is nothing short of a living-legend of our time and beyond.
