The organization bestowed upon Serena Williams the esteemed title on Monday night during a ceremony held in New York.
“I delved into the realms of fashion and style as a means to express my uniqueness,” Williams shared with the enthralled audience. “In many ways, the tennis courts became my personal runway.”
In a historic moment, Williams became the inaugural athlete to receive this honor. Past recipients of the award have included luminaries like Beyoncé, Zendaya, and Rihanna.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion graced the red carpet at the American Museum of Natural History, donning an exquisite black sequin gown designed exclusively by Thom Browne, the Chairman of the CFDA.
On this grand evening, often likened to the fashion industry’s equivalent of the Oscars, Serena Williams was presented with the 2023 CFDA Fashion Icon Award by none other than the fashion mogul and television sensation, Kim Kardashian.
The star-studded event saw the presence of notable figures like actors Anne Hathaway, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Demi Moore, alongside singers Mary J. Blige and Vanessa Hudgens, all adding to the glittering allure of the occasion.
In her acceptance speech, Williams expressed her deep passion for fashion and how it intertwined with her tennis journey.
“I crafted denim skirts, donned vibrant purple tutus and bodysuits, adorned my hair with beads and intricate braids,” she reminisced. “It was a genuinely enjoyable period for me.”
Between her Grand Slam tournaments, Williams dedicated time to studying fashion, attending a fashion school. In 2018, she proudly launched her own clothing line, S by Serena.
In 2019, Serena Williams shared with Essence magazine that her fashion creations symbolized a broad spectrum of women. “They represent indomitable mothers, daughters, and sisters; resilient businesswomen and entrepreneurs; outsiders and underdogs; little girls with audacious dreams and unwavering women of color.”
Williams, now at 42, concluded her illustrious 27-year professional tennis career at the 2022 US Open in New York. However, she has left the door open for a potential return, saying, “I am not retired,” and “the chances of a return are very high.” She referred to this transition in a Vogue magazine article as “evolving away from tennis.”
During the awards ceremony, Williams expressed her gratitude towards several people, reserving a special place for her mother. “Watching her sew ignited the creativity in me, a spark that still burns bright to this day,” Williams fondly recalled.
