For years, Serena Williams has been admired not just for her dominance on the court but also for her unapologetic confidence in her body.
Now, at 43, the tennis legend has revealed the journey behind her latest transformation — a 31-pound weight loss that has fans both impressed and curious.
The Role of Weight Loss Medication
In an interview with Vogue, Williams admitted that her slimmed-down frame wasn’t achieved by workouts alone.
She revealed she has been using Zepbound, a GLP-1 medication from the same family as popular drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro.
These medications regulate appetite and blood sugar, helping users lose weight more steadily.
Serena described the treatment as something that enhanced her already healthy lifestyle rather than replacing it.
Post-Pregnancy Struggles With Weight
Serena’s decision came after years of battling post-pregnancy weight changes.
Following the birth of her first daughter, Alexis Olympia, in 2017, and her second, Adira River, in 2023, she noticed her body no longer responded to workouts and healthy eating the way it once did.
Despite training like an elite athlete, she said the scale wouldn’t budge.
It was this frustration that led her to seek guidance from Ro, a health care company where she’s a spokesperson — and where her husband, Alexis Ohanian, is an investor.
A Shift in How She Feels
Speaking with People and the TODAY show, Serena explained that the medication helped her feel “light physically and light mentally.”
She also shared that she has more energy, less joint pain, and a sense of balance that had been missing since her playing days.
Still, she was quick to acknowledge the stigma around weight-loss drugs, insisting that body image should never be tied to one’s worth.
Serena Pushes Back Against Criticism
Even with her openness, Serena has faced scrutiny. In recent months, her toned selfies and bikini snapshots have triggered waves of speculation online, with some fans accusing her of relying solely on Ozempic and others claiming she looked “too thin.”
The debate grew so intense that her social media comment sections turned into mini battlegrounds — some critics questioning her new look, while loyal supporters defended her glow-up and reminded everyone that Serena has faced body commentary her entire career.
A Career Defined by Power and Legacy
Through it all, Serena remains unfazed. She knows what it means to put in the hard work — her 23 Grand Slam singles titles, 319 weeks as world No. 1, and status as the most decorated female player in the Open Era are proof enough.
Since her farewell at the 2022 US Open, she has leaned into her roles as a mother, businesswoman, philanthropist, and style icon.
Her transformation, as she frames it, isn’t about vanity — it’s about health, energy, and living life fully.
Still Serena, On and Off the Court
At the end of the day, Serena Williams has never been one to conform to outside expectations.
Whether she was “too muscular” for some critics at the height of her career or now “too slim” for others, she continues to do things her way.
And as her defenders often remind everyone online: Serena isn’t just surviving the noise — she’s thriving.
