No matter how much success she obtains on and off the tennis court, Serena Williams can't seem to avoid the topic of her body.
Sure, she has a successful fashion line on HSN. And yes, she is often called one of the greatest athletes of our time. But along the way, the gold medalist has learned to accept the fact that people are going to talk about her figure.
Through all the comments—both good and bad—Serena has become a role model for women of all ages thanks to her positive perspective and outlook on all things beauty.
It was on full display when she appeared in The FADER's latest issue where the topic of loving one's body came up once again.
"People have been talking about my body for a really long time. Good things, great things, negative things," she shared with the publication. "People are entitled to have their opinions, but what matters most is how I feel about me, because that's what's going to permeate the room I'm sitting in."
She continued, "It's going to make you feel that I have confidence in myself whether you like me or not, or you like the way I look or not, if I do. That's the message I try to tell other women and in particular young girls. You have to love you, and if you don't love you no one else will. And if you do love you, people will see that and they'll love you too."
That mindset is one that wasn't created overnight. Earlier this year, the tennis star opened up to the U.K.'s The Times magazine about how she learned to love herself during a time when other athletes didn't look just like her.
"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 the British publication. "When I was younger, it was hard seeing all these thin athletes when I had more muscular curves and was big-busted."
Perhaps that makes her title of Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year in 2015 even that much more special. When E! News caught up with the athlete soon after the cover was released, Serena expressed how thrilled she was at the honor.
"The cover I thought was really amazing," she said. "It just captured everything."
And the next time an Internet troll shares a ridiculous comment on social media, there's a chance J.K. Rowling will totally come to her defense. If not, we have a feeling she's going to practice what she preaches to so many fans.
"I'd say just keep trying, never stop," Serena once shared with E! News. "It's so important to keep going and believe in your dreams."