Cape Town – Following the birth of her own daughter, Serena Willams penned an emotional letter to her mother thanking her.
The tennis pro welcomed baby Alexis Olympia Ohanian on 1 September and can finally say she knows what it’s like to be in her mother’s shoes.
Calling mama Oracene Price one of the “strongest women” she knows, Serena started the letter – shared on Instagram, Reddit and The Washington Post - describing the early similarities between herself and her newborn.
“I was looking at my 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.”
The athlete continues to remember times she was compared to a man because of her strong stature and falsely accused of using illegal performance enhancers.
“I've been called man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said that that I use drugs.”
“But mom,” Serena continues, “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.”
The 35-year-old then exclaims how proud she is to be able to have shown everyone 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!”
Drawing to a close, Serena thanks her mom for being a role model to her and for teaching her values and morals she hopes to teach her own daughter.
READ THE FULL LETTER HERE: