‘No Athlete Has Boobs Like Me’: Serena Williams Says She’s Just Now Learning to Embrace Her Curves

Those killer curves that men drool over and amazing legs and arms that women envy, weren’t always embraced by tennis champion Serena Williams. The 31-year-old Cali native, who along with her sister (Venus) have been a force to recon with on the tennis court, says that growing up, she wasn’t a fan of being ‘thick’. In an interview with Du Jour she explained:

Well, I wasn’t always confident. I just started feeling comfortable with myself about six or seven years ago. That’s why I tell people that even at 25 or 26, it’s OK if you’re feeling uncomfortable with yourself. I was too. It’s normal. I love who I am, and I encourage other people to love and embrace who they are. But it definitely wasn’t easy—it took me a while.

And having a body shape different than your older sister, Venus, who was much taller and thinner didn’t help:

I grew up with a lot of sisters—I was the youngest, and I was really thick. My sister Venus was so tall and slim, and just being in a society where a lot of people are really thin, it was hard. Especially as an athlete. No athlete has boobs like me. But I had to learn how to embrace myself and embrace my curves. And that’s something a lot of people can relate to.

Check out a few other excerpts from the interview:

Is it impossible for you to go out in public without getting recognized?

I could never go to places like [Starbucks]—I have to send someone out for me. I really don’t like to say no to pictures, so I always end up saying yes. But if you say yes to one, then there’s 20 people asking, and then there’s 30. It’s crazy, so I’m in my room a lot. During a tournament I hardly ever leave the hotel. Ever.

You have an apartment in Paris—is it less crazy there?

Paris used to be my safe haven. It was always a big sigh of relief for me there. I didn’t have to worry. But ever since I won Roland Garros [the French Open], I don’t really go out there. Or I go to the country.

Do you ever wish you could live normally?

I don’t complain about it—it’s just something you have to get used to. It’s such a humbling feeling that anyone would even watch me play. I feel so honored, honestly, by anyone who’s a fan of mine and who appreciates me.

So when you’re holed up in your apartment or a hotel, do you get cabin fever?

No. I do work and watch a lot of TV. I’m a big fan of Netflix. I just saw Orange Is the New Black, but it was too violent for me. I also spend a lot of time designing. I have two collections.

You’ve been working and training unbelievably hard for more than half your life. Are there ever mornings you wake up and think, I don’t feel like doing this anymore?

Not yet. But if I do, that’ll be the day I realize that time’s up. Right now I’m having so much fun…and I’m still pretty good at what I do [laughs]. So it’s like, why not keep going? You only get this opportunity once in your life.