Serena Williams has sparked a public debate after celebrating her daughter Adira’s first birthday without showing her face.
The tennis legend is no stranger to the spotlight, but when it comes to her family, she is fiercely protective, particularly of her youngest daughter, Adira.
However, Serena’s decision to keep Adira’s face out of the public eye for a year has sparked a backlash, with fans and critics demanding photos of the little girl following her recent first birthday celebration.
The 23-time grand slam winner and husband, Alexis Ohanian, are now parents of two lovely daughters. The couple’s second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, was born on Aug. 15, 2023.
The tennis star first revealed her pregnancy during the Met Gala with Ohanian in May 2023. “Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the three of us to the Met Gala,” she wrote alongside a photo of herself and her husband. The couple later revealed the gender of their new baby through a drone display.
Earlier this week, the tennis legend shared a collection of photos from her maternity photo shoot while pregnant with her second child to celebrate the second daughter’s first birthday.
Serena Williams was photographed wearing several chiffon pieces that draped elegantly over her baby bump. In one image, she hung from a sheer aerial silk, revealing her entire body outline. Olympia and Alexis were dressed in a gossamer white gown with holographic thread in another. She also took shots with just her daughter.
In another post, Serena explained the meaning of Adira’s name, using a photo of the family before they became a four-person tribe, with Olympia kissing her belly. “Adira is a girl’s name of Hebrew origin and means ‘mighty,’ ‘strong,’ and ‘majestic,'” she provided.
Despite sharing glimpses of her life as a mother and celebrating Adira’s milestones, Serena has consistently chosen not to show her youngest daughter’s face, which has irritated some of her followers.
While some applaud Williams’ efforts to shield her children from the public eye, others argue that denying fans the opportunity to see and connect with the young tennis star’s family is unfair.
For the time being, the world will have to wait for Serena to share a full photo of her youngest daughter. Until then, the tennis superstar is standing firm, demonstrating once again that she is a champion on the court and protecting what is most important to her.
