Venus Williams’ interview with L’Officiel Italia is a remarkable portrait of a woman who continues to redefine what it means to be a champion. While most of the world recognizes her as a tennis icon with seven Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, this conversation reveals a layered, driven, and deeply thoughtful individual who is using her platform to influence not only sports but also wellness, design, and advocacy.
At the heart of the interview is a sense of transformation. Venus doesn’t just rest on her legacy, she reinvents it. From breaking barriers as the first African American woman to be ranked world No. 1 in the Open Era to building V Starr, a thriving interior design studio, and co-founding Happy Viking, a plant-based nutrition brand, she shows that excellence in sport can be a launchpad, not a finish line. Her candidness about living with Sjögren’s syndrome and how it led to her wellness journey adds emotional depth to her entrepreneurial ventures. They are not marketing gimmicks but extensions of her lived experience.
What makes the interview especially compelling is how grounded Venus remains. Despite being a global figure, her words carry the weight of someone who has worked for every inch of success. She credits tennis for teaching her not only physical strength but also mental toughness, discipline, and the confidence to pursue greatness beyond the court. Her commitment to equality, particularly equal pay in women’s sports, underscores her long-standing role as an advocate, not just an athlete.
The conversation also delves into her aesthetic vision, another arena where Venus asserts her individuality. Her love for fashion is not about following trends but about personal comfort and confidence. Whether she’s designing interiors with the help of cutting-edge AI or collaborating with brands like Lacoste, she brings the same intentionality and authenticity that defines her entire career.
Perhaps the most striking takeaway is how Venus views sport as a universal language — one that inspires, unites, and uplifts. Through upcoming projects like The Match, which tells the story of tennis pioneers Althea Gibson and Angela Buxton, Venus continues to highlight voices that deserve to be heard.
The world often boxes people into singular roles but Venus Williams defies categorization. She is not just a former world No. 1 tennis player. She is a visionary entrepreneur, a fierce advocate, a style icon, a wellness leader, and a storyteller. This interview isn’t just a glimpse into her world. It’s a reminder that true greatness lies in the courage to evolve and in using your platform to uplift others.
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Talent: #VenusWilliams in @brunellocucinelli_brand
Global Chief Content Officer: @giampietrobaudo
Photographer: @riabrahao
Styling: @luca_falcioni_
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Text by: @silviafrau68
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