Serena Williams first athlete ever named fashion icon of the year

Serena Williams has revealed how she used stylish on-court tennis outfits to express her "individuality" throughout her career as she became the first athlete to receive the Fashion Icon Award.

Prior to retiring in September 2022, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was known for bringing a unique style to the court, not only in terms of her hugely successful game but also due to the outfits she wore, often veering away from the traditional tennis look.

On Monday, November 6, the 42-year-old attended the CFDA Fashion Awards at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where she was honored with the Fashion Icon Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

During her acceptance speech at what has been dubbed the fashion industry's version of the Oscars, Williams revealed how she had always used her on-court outfits to express herself as she pulled off some of the most incredible feats in tennis history.

"I knew when I was a little girl that I was different, so I explored fashion and style as a way to distinguish myself," she said, "In many ways for me, the tennis courts became my runway, and the U.S. Open was my own New York Fashion Week."

Moreover, the American tennis legend added that she had aimed to form the traditional tennis outfit into something that expressed "my individuality and my confidence and most importantly, my culture."

The award was presented by last year's CDFA honoree Kim Kardashian, who called Williams "fearless, heroic, authentic, iconic – the greatest of all time." This also marked the first time that an athlete had won the Fashion Icon Award. In her speech, Williams recalled how she had learned to express herself on the court early on in her career.

"I designed skirts out of denim and I wore purple tutus and bodysuits and put beads in my hair, and braids. It was really just a fun time for me," she said.

After studying fashion during her tennis career, Williams launched her "S by Serena" clothing line in 2018, which she mentioned in her speech as having inclusivity at its heart, being intended "to inspire women to embrace their bodies and love who they are no matter their size, race or income."