Serena Williams makes history again. The tennis champion will become the first athlete to receive the Fashion Icon honor at the 2023 CFDA Awards on Monday.
Williams is not only a long-time admirer of fashion, but an avid participant in the industry. Between Grand Slam tournaments, she found time to attend fashion school, attending the Fort Lauderdale School of Art from 2000 to 2003, knowledge that helped her prepare to launch her own label, Aneres, and later S by Serena.
As an athlete, Williams broke barriers in sportswear, moving away from the traditional tennis white in favor of bold colors and fun silhouettes. Through her clothing, Williams was able to not only showcase her personality but also show that she was not interested in tradition. Her influence has transcended the world of sports, landing her on runways, red carpets, magazine covers and even co-hosting the 2019 Met Gala. She also works directly with designers, including with Nike and Off-White starting in 2018. The late Virgil Abloh designed everything from her Grand Slam apparel to her Met sneakers.
As the latest honoree, Williams joins the likes of Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Zendaya, Rihanna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Pharrell Williams and Jennifer Lopez The ranks of mavericks. Below, let’s take a look at some of Serena Williams’ most memorable outfits on and off the court.
