Serena Williams Checks The Haters In SI Sportsperson of the Year Speech

Tuesday night in New York, Serena Williams was honored as Sports Illustrated’s Sportsperson of the Year. After a crazy successful year that included a “Serena Slam,” with wins at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, Serena came through and shut it down with a look and a speech that was sure to quiet the haters.

Serena’s speech covered her dreams as a little girl in growing up in Compton wanting to win the US Open – she’s won it six times – and all the times people questioned her will just because she’s a black woman.

I’ve had people look down on me. I’ve had people put me down because I didn’t look like them—I look stronger. I’ve had people look past me because of the color of my skin. I’ve had people overlook me because I was a woman. I had critics say I will never win another grand slam when I was only at number seven and now here I stand today with 21 grand slam titles and I’m still going.

She also had a few jabs for those who foolishly believed that a horse should’ve won the award over her. She ended her speech with an excerpt from Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise.

Serena rocked a look from her own collection for the ceremony. Williams stunning in a black, sheer lace look from the Serena Williams Signature Collection X Aaron Gray.