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This Is What A Woman Looks Like

Are we seriously asking whether women like Serena Williams can be both athletic and beautiful?
By 

Associate Sports Editor, The Huffington Post

Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain, during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Serena Williams of the United States returns a shot to Garbine Muguruza of Spain, during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Serena Williams, the most dominant female athlete of her time -- and arguably the most dominant, full stop -- won her 21st career Grand Slam title on Saturday at Wimbledon.

Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning a point against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning a point against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Credit: Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press

Simultaneously a world-class athlete and a style icon, she lifted her sixth Wimbledon Venus Rosewater Dish with a rose gold diamond-set Audemars Piguet watch secured to her wrist. She looked, it must be said, completely awesome and totally in control.

Serena Williams of the United States holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. Williams won 6-4, 6-4. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Serena Williams of the United States holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. Williams won 6-4, 6-4. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/ASSOCIATED PRESS

One day before, The New York Times published a story entitled, "Tennis’s Top Women Balance Body Image With Ambition," in which the coach of fellow tennis pro Agnieszka Radwanska said they have decided to keep Agnieszka's weight down in part because "first of all she’s a woman, and she wants to be a woman.”

But who looks more like a woman than Serena Williams? No one, that's who.

Serena Williams of the United States smiles during a press conference after defeating Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the final of the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Javier Garcia/Pool Photo via AP)
Serena Williams of the United States smiles during a press conference after defeating Garbine Muguruza of Spain in the final of the women's singles final at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (Javier Garcia/Pool Photo via AP)
Credit: Javier Garcia/ASSOCIATED PRESS

The night following her victory, Serena took her title out on the town to the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at the Guild Hall in London.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at The Guildhall on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at The Guildhall on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Per usual for a powerful woman, Serena has dealt with more scrutiny of her looks than her male peers. One man felt compelled to tweet at J.K. Rowling over the weekend to say Serena is "built like a man." No, she is not. What does that even mean?

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at The Guildhall on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at The Guildhall on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

She is glorious. And more importantly, she is the kind of woman we should want our daughters to look up to.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at The Guildhall on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at The Guildhall on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at The Guildhall on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Serena Williams attends the Wimbledon Champions Dinner at The Guildhall on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
Credit: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

This year's Wimbledon men's champion, Novak Djokovic, was mesmerized by Serena's grace. Who wouldn't be? Only small, scared men, that's who.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY - NO COMMERCIAL USEAGE) Serena Williams of the United States and Novak Djokovic of Serbia dance on stage at the Champions Dinner at the Guild Hall on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Thomas Lovelock - AELTC Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY - NO COMMERCIAL USEAGE) Serena Williams of the United States and Novak Djokovic of Serbia dance on stage at the Champions Dinner at the Guild Hall on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Thomas Lovelock - AELTC Pool/Getty Images)
Credit: Thomas Lovelock/Getty Images

Holding her trophy while in a jewel-encrusted dress, Serena reminded us that no one should ever think femininity and athleticism are mutually exclusive.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY - NO COMMERCIAL USEAGE) Serena Williams of the United States poses on stage at the Champions Dinner at the Guild Hall on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Thomas Lovelock - AELTC Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY - NO COMMERCIAL USEAGE) Serena Williams of the United States poses on stage at the Champions Dinner at the Guild Hall on day thirteen of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Thomas Lovelock - AELTC Pool/Getty Images)
Credit: Thomas Lovelock/Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Serena Williams of the United States leaves court with the Venus Rosewater Dish after her victory in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Serena Williams of the United States leaves court with the Venus Rosewater Dish after her victory in the Final Of The Ladies' Singles against Garbine Muguruza of Spain during day twelve of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 11, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Serena Williams is what a woman looks like. Bye, haters.

When you have 21 career Grand Slam titles and every active women's player combined has 21 Grand Slam titles pic.twitter.com/jcRxEASZ62

— HuffPost Sports (@HuffPostSports) July 11, 2015
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