AP
New York, Sept 13: “She turns her disappointment into triumph. Her grief into joy. Her rejections into approvals. If no one believes in her it does not matter. She believes in herself. Nothing stops her. No one can touch her. She is woman.”
So said Serena Williams here Monday as part of a female-power soundtrack for a runway show of her ‘Serena Williams Signature Statement’ collection for HSN during New York Fashion Week.
Serena interspersed the long-form poem that she wrote and recited on the soundtrack with music from women only, including her buddy Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’.
“I wrote it right after Wimbledon and during the Olympics, and I just was in this moment of I want to empower women,” she explained in a backstage interview.
“It was right around the time I was asked, ‘How do you feel about being the greatest female athlete?’ and I was, like, they never ask men that. I wanted to give women strength. I played it for Beyonce and she loved it,” added Serena who had just lost her throne to Angelique Kerber.
The sophistication of the show spoke to her years in fashion, along with her sister, Venus, who focuses on ‘athleisure’ wear for another company. Are they competitive in fashion as well as tennis?
“It is very competitive spirit, but we’re in totally different fields,” Serena smiled. “She’s into more sportswear and I’m into more ready-to-wear, and more sportswear, too.”
Asked if getting back to No. 1 is a top priority, Serena responded: “Right now I’m focused on fashion and then when I’m not, I’m focused on Grand Slams. I always love having goals.”
