Slechts een week nadat ze de eerste foto van haar pasgeboren dochtertje heeft gedeeld, post Serena Williams opnieuw een emotionele boodschap op social media, dit keer gericht aan haar eigen moeder.

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In een sentimentele open brief bedankt Williams haar eigen moeder, Oracene Price, voor haar kracht en begeleiding. Hierbij plaatst haar pasgeboren dochtertje, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr, alles in perspectief. Want: dochtertje Alexis heeft dezelfde armen en benen als mama Serena. En dus kan Serena - die zichzelf staande moest houden in de media toen ze voor man of drugsgebruiker werd uitgemaakt vanwege haar gespierde lichaam - het niet laten om haar moeder te bedanken. Dankzij haar moeder heeft ze de wereld met trots kunnen laten zien "hoe sommige vrouwen eruit zien" en dat wenst ze nu ook voor haar eigen dochter.

Lees de volledige brief op Reddit of hier beneden:

Dear Mom,

You are one of the strongest women I know. I was looking at my daughter (OMG, yes, I have a daughter 😳) and she has my arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body. I don't know how I would react if she has to go through what I've gone through since I was a 15 year old and even to this day.

I've been called man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said that that I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage). It has been said I don't belong in Women's sports -- that I belong in Men's -- because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and proud of it).

But mom, I'm not sure how you did not go off on every single reporter, person, announcer and quite frankly, hater, who was too ignorant to understand the power of a black woman.

I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like. We don't all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!

You are so classy, I only wish I could take your lead. I am trying, though, and God is not done with me yet. I have a LONG way to go, but thank you.

Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as a challenges--ones that I enjoy. I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia the same, and have the same fortitude you have had.

Promise me, Mom, that you will continue to help. I'm not sure if I am as meek and strong as you are yet. I hope to get there one day. I love you dearly.

Your youngest of five,

Serena

Serena met haar moeder (links) en haar zus Venuspinterest
Serena met haar moeder (links) en haar zus Venus
Van: Harper's BAZAAR US