One of the world's top female tennis players made a powerful statement Tuesday about body image in a letter to her mom she posted on Reddit.
Serena Williams, who has been scrutinized for her muscular body, recently gave birth to a baby girl with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian. Her letter to her mom touched on those issues and how she hopes newborn Alexis Olympia does not have to endure the same criticism she did.
"I've been called man because I appeared outwardly strong," Williams wrote. "It has been said that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage). It has been said I don't belong in women's sports – that I belong in men's – because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proud of it)."
Williams, 35, won the Australian Open in January while pregnant. She has won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most Grand Slam wins by a tennis player in the Open era.
"I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like," Williams wrote. "We don't all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!"
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