Serena Williams has declared “loving yourself is essential” months after she had her second daughter.
The tennis icon, 42, gave birth to her girl Adira River Ohanian – who she had with her 40-year-old Reddit co-founder husband Alexis Ohanian – in August, and has now opened up about her feelings towards her body in a caption alongside an image of herself dressed in a bikini while holding the tot to her chest.
She said about the snap, shared on Instagram: “I find that I have to remind myself of that self-love through all different stages in my life.
“Right now I love that my body is not picture perfect. I love that I smell like milk – that milk sustains @adiraohanian I love getting to know a new version of my body.”
Serena added the changes in her body have been “well worth it” and encouraged her followers to start the week by knowing that they’re “loved” – concluding: “And that starts with you”, before adding she was heading to the gym.
Serena’s partner Alexis said online after the arrival of Adira: “I’m grateful to report our house is teaming with love: a happy and healthy newborn girl and happy and healthy mama.
“Feeling grateful. @serenawilliams you’ve now given me another incomparable gift – you’re the GMOAT (Greatest Mum of all Time.)”
Two months after she gave birth, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena was back in the gym trying to get her “ab muscles” back.
Referring to her and Alexis’ six-year-old daughter Olympia looking over her, she captioned a snap of her working out: “Olympia watching me try to get my ab muscles working again. Here comes fitness!”
Serena shocked fans with her second pregnancy last May when she showed up to the Met Gala with her baby bump on display.
Referring to Vogue boss Anna Wintour, she captioned a carousel of photos of her and her husband at the fashion extravaganza: “Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us.”
