Serena’s message to shamers

NEW mom Serena Williams posted an emotional letter to her own mother, Oracene Price, Tuesday on Reddit, thanking her for being a strong role model — and slamming her body-shaming critics at the same time. After giving birth to her first child with Reddit co-founder

Alexis Ohanian, daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., earlier this month, Williams wrote, “She has my arms and legs! My exact same strong, muscular, powerful, sensational arms and body,” the athlete continued. “I don’t know how I would react if she has to go through what I’ve gone through since I was a 15-year-old and even to this day.” Williams then went on to address her critics, recalling, “I’ve been called [a] man because I appeared outwardly strong. It has been said that that (sic) I use drugs (No, I have always had far too much integrity to behave dishonestly in order to gain an advantage).” She added, “It has been said I don’t belong in women’s sports — that I belong in men’s — because I look stronger than many other women do. (No, I just work hard and I was born with this badass body and [am] proud of it).” The message continued: “I am proud we were able to show them what some women look like. We don’t all look the same. We are curvy, strong, muscular, tall, small, just to name a few, and all the same: we are women and proud!” She added to her mother, “Thank you for being the role model I needed to endure all the hardships that I now regard as challenges — ones that I enjoy. I hope to teach my baby Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. the same, and have the same fortitude you have had.”