This month we are celebrating women as we enter Women’s History Month on Tuesday, March 1st. Each week we will celebrate feminine icons who have fought for justice, equality and cultural acceptance.
Who better to start the month off than Serena Williams– is trailblazer for women’s tennis.
Who is Serena Williams?
- Serena Jameka Williams was born to parents Richard and Oracene Williams on September 26, 1981 in Saginaw, Michigan.
- Serena and her sister Venus Williams are the youngest of Richard’s 5 daughters and both became tennis champions after being groomed from the age of 3 by their father, Richard.
- The Williams family relocated to Compton, California in 1983 so Serena and her sisters may understand the importance of working hard and getting an education. Mr. Williams took everything he learned from books and videos to instruct his daughters to the best of his ability. As they started to mature and show great potential, the Willimas’ once again relocated in 1991 to Florida in order to gain instruction by successful professionals.
- Serena has gone on to be one of the most remarkable female athletes in the world and even won People Magazine’s 2002 “Most Intriguing People Award”.
- In December 2016, Williams became engaged to Reddit Co-Founder, Alexis Ohanian and the pair were married in November of 2017.
- The couple welcomed their first child together in September of 2017, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
Why is she important to history ?
- Serena Williams learned from a very young age the importance of working hard and persevering through tough climates. Despite long practices, her fathers passion for her success and battling womanhood, Williams always kept her head tall and is famously known for reminding girls alike that she learned from her setbacks more than her successes.
- Inventing their own style and play the Williams sisters changed the complete look of Women’s Tennis. Their charisma and passion made them on court celebrities, but their power and force when they played is what overwhelmed their opponents.
- Serena Williams is an icon and strength symbol for not only young tennis players, but young girls who are constantly taunted by the idea of “being too young to be any good” or “too weak to accomplish their goals”.
- Proving she is much more than an incredible tennis career, Serena expanded into fashion, film and television.
- The Serena Williams Foundation provides educational opportunities to underprivileged youth and builds schools around Africa.
What are her greatest accomplishments?
- Serena Williams is a professional American Tennis player with numerous championships under her belt. Over her stellar career she has held the top spot in the Women’s Tennis association year over year and has gone on to win 23 Grand Slam singles titles.
- By 1991, Serena was ranked first in the 10-and-under-division.
- By 1995, Serena was a pro and had a ranking of No. 99 in the world, a large jump from her previous stake No.304 just twelve months prior.
- In a race to the families first Grand Slam, Serena beat out her sister Venus capturing the 1999 US Open title.
- By 2008 the inseparable sister pair teamed up to win a second Olympic Gold medal in the Beijing Games.
- In 2009, the duo made history again by being the first African American women to own part of an NFL team, The Miami Dolphins.
- In 2012 Serena won her first Gold medal in women’s singles and by 2015 she had won her 20th Grand Slam title.
- As of 2022, Serena owns her own clothing line, S by Serena, and is on a bit of a retirement as she heals from her injuries.
by: Savannah Catledge
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