The close friendship between tennis star Serena Williams and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, feels like the kind of close female bond you might hear about in a Taylor Swift song.
The accomplished duo, both global superstars in their own right, reportedly met in 2010 at the Super Bowl, right before before Meghan’s big break on Suits, and since then their friendship has blossomed.
As women of colour, both Meghan and Serena have fought their own battles against racism their entire lives.
And according to the author of a brand new biography on Serena, the tennis legend gave her friend some firm advice just before she was about to marry Prince Harry and formally become a member of the royal family.
Warning her about the intense scrutiny and likely racially-motivated criticism she would soon experience, Serena reportedly told Meghan, “You’ve got to be who you are. You can’t hide”, writes author Mark Hodgkinson in his new book, Serena: A Graphic Biography of the Greatest Tennis Champion.
READ NEXT: Inside Meghan Markle and Serena Williams’ friendship
Serena and Meghan sharing a laugh together.
(Credit: Getty)
The women have supported each other through weddings, children and intense media scrutiny.
(Credit: Getty)During an interview with The Project last September, Serena revealed that she and Meghan were “relying on” each other a lot.
“We were actually just texting each other this morning,” she told host Lisa Wilkinson.
“And you know, I think we have known each other for a long time. But we really are kind of relying on each other a lot recently.”
She spoke about Meghan’s royal wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018 and how it was particularly special to watch her friend get married.
“It was really exciting to see so much African-American culture in the wedding and I was really happy that Meghan wanted to incorporate that into it,” Serena said.
“It was just a whole cultural shift and change. It was seeing how far African-Americans have come.
“I thought it was an incredibly inspiring and beautiful and really motivating thing. I was so proud of her and so happy for her.”
The African-American women have shared a bond over their experiences with raciam.
(Credit: Getty)Before Serena gave birth to her first child Olympia in 2017, Meghan opened up in an interview with Vogue about what she thought Serena would be like as a mother.
“She will be an amazing mum,” Meghan gushed.
“The very best, because she is so attuned to balancing strength and sensitivity. Plus, given that she is pretty epic at karaoke, I think she’ll put her signature Serena spin on singing lullabies for the baby. I can’t wait for that!”
WATCH BELOW: Inside Meghan Markle’s high profile friendships. Story continues after video.
In her now defunct lifestyle blog The Tig, Meghan wrote that Serena “quickly became a confidante I would text when I was travelling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down to earth chick I was able to grab lunch with.”
She said the pair quickly hit it off and share many of the same interests.
“We’re both the same age, have a penchant for hot sauces and adore fashion, but what connects us more than those things is perhaps our belief in exceeding expectations – our endless ambition,” Meghan wrote.
Total friendship goals!
