Serena Williams was last month accused of being “built like a man” after winning the 2015 Wimbledon ladies championship. The win gave her possession of all four grand slam trophies at the same time.
That ‘Serena Slam’ alone wasn’t enough to win over all tennis spectators, however, as her victory over Garbine Muguruza was somewhat tarnished by another series of body image stories centred on herself and older sister Venus.
It’s why her stunning photo shoot with New York Magazine is so timely. It aptly responded to her critics in the best way possible. The 33-year-old posed for the magazine to promote her new season fashion release – the Serena Williams Signature Statement Spring 2015 collection.
The 21-time grand slam champion has never been pictured quite like this before. Speaking to journalist Kerry Howley about her transition from professional tennis to fashion post-career, Williams makes it clear she doesn’t see herself sticking around tennis her whole life.
Williams says she doesn’t even hold onto all of the trophies and titles she has won over the years. “I have lots of trophies, and I’m just — I’m not that person that needs to see all these trophies,” Williams said. 
“I have some in my house here, some in my house there, some I don’t know what happened to ’em. I have my grand-slam trophies … somewhere.”
Williams will look to defend her US Open crown at Flushing Meadows when the fourth grand slam of the year begins in New York on August 31.
