Serena Williams Says She Struggled to Love Her Curves

Serena Williams may have the confidence to pose nude these days, but it took the curvaceous tennis champion years to get there. Williams says she used to battle body image doubts. I know I get flack for my physique, and it has been a struggle to love my body, but now curves are in and

Serena Williams may have the confidence to pose nude these days, but it took the curvaceous tennis champion years to get there.

Williams says she used to battle body image doubts.

“I know I get flack for my physique, and it has been a struggle to love my body, but now curves are in and I’m happier in myself,” she told Britain’s The Times Magazine.

Williams, 34, the winner of 21 Grand Slams in her career, says she used to compare herself to the slimmer players.

“When I was younger, it was hard seeing all these thin athletes when I had more muscular curves and was big-busted,” she says. “Just try running with DDs that are bouncing seven inches up and down! It’s distracting, not to mention dangerous, because you can tear ligaments.”

But now that she’s moved past her body image issues, she wants to help other women feel better about their individual physiques.

“Women face so many impossible ideals,” Williams says. “It’s important for me to get across that there’s more than one way to look amazing.”

Williams is well aware of the criticism women may face about their appearance. In July, body shamers attacked her when she posted a picture of herself in a bikini on Instagram.

But Williams didn’t let that distract her from tennis, telling Good Morning America, “I don’t have time to be brought down, I’ve got too many things to do. I have Grand Slams to win, I have people to inspire, and that’s what I’m here for.”

“I love that I’m a full woman and I am strong, and I’m powerful, and I’m beautiful at the same time, and there’s nothing wrong like that. It’s so important to look at the positives, if I get caught up looking at the negatives it can really bring you down.”

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And though she lost in the semifinals at the U.S. Open over the summer, Williams ended 2015 with a bang, modeling for the 2016 Pirelli Calendar and earning Sports Illustrated’s prestigious Sportsperson of the Year award.

Now she’s ready for the new year. In October, she sent out a Snapchat warning her competitors for the upcoming season.

“I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The good news is I dreamed about tennis last night. The bad news is everybody better watch out.”

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