Lifting Other Women Up with Serena Williams

Our class cohorts at the French Beauty Academy are named after pioneering women who inspire us. Our Williams cohort is named after Serena Williams, the inspirational tennis player, in the hopes that it would serve as a reminder for our students to keep going despite first-day nerves or assessment stress. ⁠⁠The former number one world champion in women’s single tennis has won more Grand Slam titles than any other woman or man in the open era. Not only is Serena a talented and dedicated athlete, she has influenced our sporting culture, community, athletics, and the way we view them in many ways. Throughout her career, she has overcome many hurdles as a woman of colour in sport; breaking down racial and gender based barriers to become the champion she is today.

Williams inspires us as she has demonstrated true sportsmanship throughout her career. One example of this was when she famously lost the 2018 Grand Slam final to Naomi Osaka. When the post-match interview took place, Williams bravely took the microphone to calm the loud, angry, booing crowd to defend her opponent Naomi and offer her support. The French celebrate women supporting women and use pioneers like Serena to encourage our students to do the same. “The success of every woman should be an inspiration to another,” says Serena. “ We should raise each other up. Be strong, be extremely kind and above all, be humble.”