Serena Williams is set to receive the Fashion Icon award at the CFDA Fashion Awards next month in New York City. Williams becomes the first athlete to receive the award; in recent years, the award has gone to Lenny Kravitz, Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, and Naomi Campbell.
Thom Browne, chairman of the CFDA, said per WWD, “Serena is one of the most inspiring people in the world…a true individual…she is an icon of the sports world…representing greatness on the highest level…bringing fashion to another world…for another audience…always staying true to herself, both on and off the court…a perfect combination of our worlds…the ultimate example of individuality in everything she does.…Serena is a true fashion icon.”
Williams, a mom of two to daughters Alexis and Adria with husband Alexis Ohanian, is known for her dominance of tennis, but also for her on and off court style and entrepreneurship. “Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve used fashion as an outlet to express myself—fashion gave me the confidence to step on the court and own who I was, and where I knew I was going,” Williams, who retired from tennis last year, said in a statement. “My dream of owning my own brand, S by Serena, has become a reality and throughout my career, I have been blessed to collaborate with the most established designers and the most exciting up-and-coming creatives. I have had so much fun learning my style and allowing it to change as my life has evolved, but I’ve always held one thing true—fashion is for everyone, no matter your size, race or income. I am incredibly honored to be receiving the prestigious Fashion Icon Award from the CFDA, an organization whose work I have long admired and to stand among style icons I have always looked up to.”
The 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards, hosted by Sarah Jessica Parker, will take place at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on November 6.
Emily Burack (she/her) is the news writer for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, culture, the royals, and a range of other subjects. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Twitter and Instagram.
