Tennis icon Serena Williams has responded directly to long-standing rumours suggesting that she has undergone cosmetic surgery or bleached her skin to alter her appearance.

The 42-year-old tennis legend, who retired in 2022 after an illustrious career spanning over two decades, took to Instagram earlier this year to refute claims that she has undergone various surgeries to change her face and body.

Recently, Williams shared a video of her and her husband at a school function, where she looked unusually light which ignited discourse online on whether or not the Tennis star had gone under the knife or bleached her skin.

“And then I put just that neutral colour, that is actually my skin colour. And no, for you haters out there, I do not bleach my skin,” Williams said during the Live on social media, which doubled as a makeup tutorial for her Wyn Beauty cosmetic brand.

“There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colours,” she added. “Yes, I’m calling you out on this because it is ridiculous.”

“Everyone’s like, ‘Oh, she bleached her skin.’ I’m a dark, black woman, and I love who I am, and I love how I look,” Williams explained. “And if people do it, that’s their thing, and they have every opportunity and they should. I don’t judge, but you guys do.”

Speculations had started earlier this year about her appearance taking a drastic change. Williams shared a photo of herself dressed in a double denim outfit by Off-White, paired with a strappy vest top. She captioned the image, “100 per cent real … forehead to toe … lol(sic),” a clear message addressing the persistent gossip surrounding her looks.

Williams’ poignant response reflects her frustration with the constant rumours, which have followed her throughout much of her career.

Despite being one of the most successful athletes in history with 73 career titles, including 23 Grand Slam singles victories, she has often been the subject of public scrutiny not just for her athletic abilities, but also for her appearance.

The tennis star has made headlines not only for her achievements on the court but also for her fashion choices and her body transformation over the years.

From discussions of her looking ‘masculine’, to now surgery and skin bleaching, the speculation has intensified in recent years, particularly after Williams became a mother.

She and her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, welcomed their first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, in 2017. In 2023, they expanded their family with the birth of their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian. The changes in Williams’ physique during and after her pregnancies prompted even more rumours, with some suggesting that she turned to weight-loss drugs or other extreme measures to regain her pre-pregnancy shape.

However, the 23-time Grand Slam winner has consistently maintained that any changes in her appearance are a result of hard work, dedication, and her natural body transformations. Her recent Instagram post, which emphasized her authenticity, serves as a firm rebuttal to the allegations that she has used cosmetic surgery or weight-loss drugs to enhance her image.

Serena Williams’ stance also reflects the contemporary issue of body positivity; body image and the pressures faced by women in the public eye. As an African American woman in a sport often dominated by individuals of different racial backgrounds, Williams has also dealt with criticism and stereotypes about her physique throughout her career. Her body, which she has always shown off and celebrated for its strength and athleticism, has often been scrutinized by those who have deemed it ‘unconventional’, to say the least, by traditional beauty standards.

Her message to fans and detractors is laced with pride and a love of one’s natural self.