Nearly three weeks after welcoming her daughter Alexis Olympia, Serena Williams can’t help but thank the greatest example she’s had — her own mom.
In a special letter posted to Reddit, the tennis champ penned a sweet letter to her mom, Oracene Price, to thank her for always being a wonderful role model.
“Dear Mom, You are one of the strongest women I know. I was looking at my daughter (OMG, yes, I have a daughter) and she has my arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body. I don’t know how I would react if she has to go through what I’ve gone through since I was a 15 year old and even to this day.”
In the note, Williams addressed those who criticize her muscular build, accuse her of taking performance-enhancing drugs and attack her femininity.
“I’ve been called man because I appeared outwardly strong,” she continued. “It has been said that that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage). It has been said I don’t belong in Women’s sports — that I belong in Men’s — because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proud of it).”
Williams, who is the youngest daughter of her mother’s children, praised her mom for being a classy representation of Black girl magic.
“But mom, I’m not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was too ignorant to understand the power of a black woman. I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like. We don’t all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!
You are so classy, I only wish I could take your lead. I am trying, though, and God is not done with me yet. I have a LONG way to go, but thank you.
Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as a challenges–ones that I enjoy. I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia the same, and have the same fortitude you have had.
Promise me, Mom, that you will continue to help. I’m not sure if I am as meek and strong as you are yet. I hope to get there one day. I love you dearly.”
Williams also shared a side-by-side photo on Instagram of she and Alexis, who she welcomed with fiancé and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian on Sept. 1. Baby Alexis made her social media debut shortly after her birth, showing off muscles much like her mothers.
We love seeing Williams embrace the joy of motherhood; it looks so good on her!