'Hard to deal with': Serena Williams on body-image issues
Serena Williams just got real about her early days in tennis, sharing how tough it was to stand out with a strong, muscular body in a sport that usually celebrated slimmer athletes.
"It was hard because when I was playing in the beginning - the first 15 years - my body was different," she told Porter magazine.
Feeling out of place and under the spotlight
From her teens, Serena faced criticism for not fitting the typical tennis look—she mentioned having "big boobs" and a "big butt" while most players were "super flat, super thin."
The constant comparisons and public comments took a toll on her mental health.
To protect herself, she stopped reading articles about herself at 17.
As she put it: "It does affect you mentally. Absolutely."
Turning struggles into strength
Now retired, Serena's perspective has shifted—she's embraced her body as a sign of strength and encourages young athletes to do the same.
She wishes there had been more acceptance of different body types back then and reminds everyone: "You have to love you."