It's kinda wild when you think about it. For over twenty years, people have been obsessed with Serena Williams’ physique, and not always in a way that feels respectful. Honestly, if you were online in the early 2000s, you remember the comments. They were harsh. Critics called her "masculine" or "too big," basically trying to strip away her femininity because she didn't look like the thin, waif-ish tennis players of the 90s.
Then came the photography.
When we talk about nudes of Serena Williams, we aren't talking about leaked phone pictures or some scandalous tabloid fodder. We’re talking about high-art, intentional moments where she took the power back. Whether it was her iconic Vanity Fair cover or the ESPN Body Issue, Serena used her bare skin to tell a story that the sports world wasn't ready to hear.
The 2017 Vanity Fair Moment: More Than Just a Baby Bump
The world stopped for a second in 2017. Annie Leibovitz, probably the most famous portrait photographer alive, captured Serena while she was six months pregnant. She was wearing nothing but a nude thong and a delicate waist chain.
It was stunning.
But for Serena, it was a massive middle finger to everyone who had spent fifteen years telling her she wasn't "feminine" enough. By posing nude while pregnant, she was leaning into the most traditional symbol of womanhood—motherhood—while maintaining that raw, muscular power that made her a GOAT.
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Why the controversy happened
- The "Performance" Critique: Some writers, like Robin Givhan from the Washington Post, argued that these kinds of shoots made celebrity pregnancy feel like a "performance."
- Historical Context: For many Black women, seeing Serena on that cover was deeply emotional. Historically, Black motherhood has been devalued or stereotyped in American media. Serena stood there, glowing and powerful, breaking that narrative.
- The Agency Factor: She wasn't being "caught." She was the one in charge.
Reclaiming the "Masculine" Label through Art
Before the pregnancy shoot, there was the 2009 ESPN Body Issue. This was the first time many people saw nudes of Serena Williams in a professional, athletic context.
She was one of the first athletes to sign on for the project.
In those shots, every muscle is defined. You see the quad strength that powered those 120mph serves. You see the core stability. At the time, she told reporters that she had struggled for a long time with her "large" build. She’d look at players like Maria Sharapova—tall, thin, blonde—and feel like an outsider.
She eventually realized that her body was her weapon. "I’m really happy with my body type, and I’m really proud of it," she said later in an interview with Porter magazine. The ESPN shoot was basically her coming-out party for self-love. It wasn't about being "sexy" for the male gaze; it was about showing what a world-class engine looks like without the tennis whites covering it up.
The Racial Politics of the Female Form
You can't talk about Serena's body without talking about race. It’s impossible.
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For centuries, Black women’s bodies have been poked, prodded, and over-sexualized by the media. Think back to Saartjie Baartman in the 19th century. Serena knew this history. She lived it every time a commentator mentioned her "power" as if it were something animalistic rather than the result of thousands of hours in the gym.
When she chose to pose for the Pirelli Calendar or Sports Illustrated, she was demanding to be seen as a "monarch." (That’s actually how some critics described her SI Sportsperson of the Year cover). She wasn't just a body; she was a presence.
A Quick Reality Check on the "Leaks"
Look, the internet is a messy place. Over the years, there have been claims of "leaked" private photos or AI-generated fakes. Honestly, most of that is just trash. Serena has been very open about her professional photography because she wants to control the narrative. Anything you see floating around that doesn't look like an Annie Leibovitz or an ESPN production is usually just clickbait designed to exploit her name.
What We Can Learn From Serena’s Confidence
Serena Williams is 44 now. She’s retired from the pro tour. But the impact of her choosing to show her body—muscles, curves, pregnancy, and all—is still felt by every young girl who walks onto a court today.
Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka don't get called "men" nearly as often as Serena did. That’s because Serena took the brunt of that vitriol for two decades. She used her platform to normalize "thick" as fit.
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She showed us that:
- Muscles are feminine.
- Motherhood doesn't erase your identity as an athlete.
- You don't have to be "thin" to be the best in the world.
If you're struggling with how you look or feeling like you don't fit the "standard," look at those 2017 portraits again. Serena didn't wait for the world to tell her she was beautiful. She just stood there and let the camera prove it.
Next Steps for Embracing Your Own Strength
If Serena’s journey resonates with you, it might be time to stop reading the "trolls" in your own life. Start by curating your feed. Follow athletes who look like you. Focus on what your body can do rather than just how it looks in a mirror. Strength is a look all its own.
Support authentic representation. When you see athletes taking control of their image, engage with that content instead of the gossip sites. It’s the best way to ensure the next generation of women doesn't have to fight the same battles Serena did.