Yesterday, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced the winner of their Fashion Icon Award for 2023 will be Serena Williams.
The CFDA Fashion Awards are set to take place next month on November 6th at the American Museum of Natural History, where Williams will be the first ever athlete to receive the award.
A powerhouse on the court & a fashionista on the streets, Williams has been very open about her passion for fashion. The four-time Olympic winner has said, “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.”
After much success in her field, or court, Williams was able to live a lifelong dream of owning her own clothing brand. She once said: “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.”
It is easy to see why Serena Williams has made such an impact on the fashion community. Chairman of the CFDA, Thom Browne made a statement about Williams as their Fashion Icon Award winner. He said: “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.”
Hard to argue with that logic. Other nominees for the CFDA Fashion Awards include Tory Burch, Vera Wang, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, Willy Chavarria and many more.