Serena Williams reveals how she struggled growing up alongside her 'thin, tall and beautiful' sister Venus
Serena Williams is the epitome of self-confidence and strength as she was recently pictured in a skin-tight all-in-one rainbow-colored outfit proving she is not shy of attention. However, she has not always been this way and had her fair share of struggles and insecurities.
The tennis champion revealed how she struggled growing up next to her "thin, tall, and beautiful" sister Venus Williams. It has definitely taken the 36-year-old time to accept and embrace her body.
As reported by Harper's Bazaar, "It was hard for me. People would say I was born a guy, all because of my arms, or because I’m strong. I was different to Venus: she was thin and tall and beautiful, and I am strong and muscular – and beautiful, but, you know, it was just totally different," Serena revealed.
In the year 2004, Williams admitted that she wanted to lose weight and become a size four but now seems to have moved away from that wanting that self-image.
"Oh God, I’ll never be a size 4! Why would I want to do that, and be that? This is me, and this is my weapon and machine," she said as she gestured to her bicep.
Serena gave birth to her first child, Alexis Olympia last year and added, "But I love that I said that because I can understand. I can show Olympia that I struggled, but now I’m happy with who I am and what I am and what I look like... Olympia was born and she had my arms, and instead of being sad and fearful about what people would say about her, I was just so happy."
Williams admits that she was thrilled about her pregnancy. "I knew I was having a girl because when I was playing tennis in the [Australian Open] tournament, I didn’t have one day of morning sickness, no symptoms. Australia is really hot, some days can be over 40 degrees, which is insane, but she never complained. I said to Alexis, 'This is a girl. Only a woman can be this strong'".
Serena and Venus may be sisters but have come face to face several times in Grand Slam competitions. She was recently knocked out of the Indian Wells Masters in California by her sister.
Serena shared, "I want Venus to win every time she's playing, except when she's playing me. And when she's playing me, I want her to win, but I want to win – and I feel awful if I win."
"It's an incredible fight inside myself…I always tell myself, in ten years, none of this is going to matter, we'll still be sisters and she's not going to be upset with me for beating her in this particular tournament," she continued.