The tennis champ and mother of two says her eldest isn’t into typical kids content

Serena Williams and daughter Olympia; Taylor Swift. Photo: Serena Williams/Instagram; Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty

Serena Williams’ eldest daughter may not be a fan of fairy tales and princesses, but she certainly thinks Taylor Swift is “Enchanted.”

On Thursday, Sept. 19, the tennis champion, 42, spoke with INBOUND podcast host and editor Kara Swisher about venture capitals at HubSpot’s annual gathering in Boston.

During the conversation, the mother of two revealed that her first born isn’t into the typical kids’ entertainment.

Taylor Swift, August 2024.Kate Green/Getty 

“My daughter just turned 7. She’s not into princesses, she’s into Taylor Swift,” Williams said, adding, “I am, too.”

The retired professional athlete shares daughters Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., 7, and Adira River Ohanian, 1, with her husband, Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

She also discussed the challenges of raising two young girls with all of the “negative energy out there.”

“It’s a scary world. It’s a digital world for kids right now. I’m always on with my daughter, but we don’t allow her on certain platforms,” Williams said.

Alexis Ohanian Sr., Serena Williams, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., and Adira Ohanian.Alexis Ohanian Sr./ Instagram 

“It’s so interesting that with everything available online and the access that kids have — in a second, you never know what can come to them,” the Olympic gold medalist added. “Like I said, I’m trying to think positively. I feel like we might try to take it slow with her and go a little bit slower with electronics, and just let her be a kid for as long as you can.”

Though the sports star keeps a close eye on her girls, she admitted she’s always open for parenting tips.

“Please give it to me, thank you very much!” Williams said while laughing.

“I don’t have any [advice],” she continued. “Wake up, that’s all I do. I could barely wake up today! I feel like everybody’s a champion. You don’t have to be winning Wimbledon or a gold medal to be a champion. Being a champion is really just being there for your kids. I think that’s a huge champion.”

Serena Williams, February 2024.Pierre Mouton/Getty 

Williams also shared how she’s able to roll with life’s unpredictable punches, telling INBOUND attendees about how a delayed flight meant less time with her kids.

“I went home and I made lunch for the kids, and I knew that I wouldn’t be there to see them eat it, but I knew I made it, and that made me feel good. And I tell you, that made me feel like a champion mom,” she said.

However, since retiring from tennis in 2022, the Wyn Beauty founder still applies lessons learned from the sport to her everyday life.

“Being a champion is understanding that you’re not going to be a champion every single day. There’s no way you can win every single day. I need to take this advice to myself,” Williams said.

“But it’s really just about giving your best effort in whatever you’re doing, just do the best that you can on that day. Some days, you will be able to make a better effort. Some days, just waking up is a big effort. You just have to give what you can on that day.”