Serena Williams is a juggernaut, on and off the tennis court. She constantly shuts down sexism, has discussed positive body image at length, and she won her 23rd Grand Slam title while she was nine weeks pregnant, for Pete’s sake. But according to a recent interview, she actually considers Duchess Catherine to be one of the most impressive women she knows.
The tennis legend was asked for her list of “badass women” in an interview with InStyle, and she replied: “Well, obviously Beyoncé. That goes unsaid. Rihanna goes unsaid. Kate Middleton!”
Her interviewer, Laura Brown, agreed: “Could you imagine having a baby and then, right after, you put on makeup and go out to greet the public?”
“No,” Serena countered incredulously. “And she was… standing! So she’s officially No. 1.”
The interview echoes what Serena has said about the royal in the past.
“I was really busy, but I saw the baby, and Kate was dressed, and I was like, ‘Oh, maybe she had him a couple days ago,'” Williams told POPSUGAR. “That’s one heck of a woman! Let me tell you: I was not in heels [after I gave birth]. I thought she gave birth maybe two days before! Wow.”
The fact she wasn’t in heels so soon after Alexis was born probably shouldn’t surprise given she chose to wear sneakers with her stunning Valentino gown at Meghan and Harry’s reception.
“I was supposed to wear heels originally, and I’m thinking, “C’mon, Serena—reception. Heels or shoes? Heels or shoes?” I decided to go with the shoes [laughs].”
But we must admit, Kate’s turnaround was certainly something to behold. Just five hours after the 36-year-old gave birth to baby Louis, she was standing outside the hospital being papped—with a blow dry no less!
Dr Philippa Costley, a spokesperson for the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, told Now To Love most women stay one to two nights after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, but if they have enough support at home—something Kate certainly has—they can leave after four hours to ensure they aren’t bleeding heavily.
