Serena Williams is gracing the cover of Stellar magazine, and the world’s greatest athlete is talking about her greatest challenge yet: motherhood.
In her interview with the Ireland-based magazine, Williams spoke about becoming a mother for the first time and the childbirth process.
“I don’t think watching birthing videos helps,” Williams said. “I actually think it makes it worse. Having a baby, nothing is guaranteed.
“I have so much respect for so many women [for giving birth]. I am about to be a real woman now, you know?” She added. “It’s going to be something incredibly impressive to go through.”
Many people may scoff at the “real woman” comment, especially those who don’t feel that having a child makes someone a woman and are probably questioning the fact that Williams calls herself a feminist.
Throughout her career, Williams has broken down barriers when it comes to sports, and she’s also vocal when it comes to women’s rights. She said that she hopes to continue that work, even after motherhood.
“There are barriers I hope to break so my baby, whether boy or girl, won’t have to live under those stipulations,” she said. “I definitely am a feminist. I like to stick up for women and women’s rights. So many things happen and I just think, ‘Wow, why don’t we have a chance?’ If that makes me a feminist, I am proud to be one.”
Williams and her fiance, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, are expecting their first child next month.