Serena Williams recently addressed allegations of skin bleaching, claiming that her altered appearance was due to “stage makeup” and sunlight. “I do not bleach my skin,” she said, affirming pride in her identity. She acknowledged that some people choose to bleach their skin, emphasizing her lack of judgment toward them.

Williams said, “There is a thing called sunlight, and in that sunlight, you get different colors.”

Williams added, “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 concluded, “But that’s what this world is about, and I stay in my lane — the non-judgy one, and I keep it. But no, I actually don’t bleach my skin, so can we just kinda clear that up?”

Williams made her professional debut at the age of 14 in 1995, but didn’t play again until 1997. By 1998, she had risen to number 20, defeating five Top 10 players.

In 1999, Williams graduated high school, signed a $12 million Puma deal, and won her first Grand Slam at the U.S. Open. She rose to number four that year. The Williams sisters won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles and three Olympic gold medals between 2000 and 2012.

Williams overcame a lung blood clot in 2011 and won singles gold at the 2012 London Olympics. By 2015, she had 21 Grand Slam titles and her second “Serena Slam.”

In 2017, Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam at the Australian Open while pregnant, surpassing Steffi Graf’s record. She later gave birth, facing severe complications.

Williams returned in 2018, ranked 549, sparking WTA rule changes for players returning after childbirth. Her career earnings have exceeded $90 million.

Beyond tennis, Williams launched fashion and jewelry lines, built schools in Kenya, and founded Serena Ventures. She was named AP Female Athlete of the Decade.