At 45, tennis icon Venus Williams isn't just smashing forehands, she's smashing expectations about aging, beauty, and what it means to feel good in your skin. In a candid interview with Marie Claire UK, the seven-time Grand Slam champion opened up about cosmetic surgery, body confidence, and why judging others for their choices is so last season.
Venus didn't hold back when asked about plastic surgery. While she's stayed natural so far, she made it clear that she's not ruling it out. "If I felt like I wanted to feel better about myself, and that's what made me feel better," she said, "I would totally do it."
© Justin Goff Photos/Getty ImagesHer philosophy is simple: whether it's fillers, Botox, or staying 100% untouched. Right now, Venus says she's content with where she's at. "I would prefer to keep my look," she shared, adding that she's happy with how she looks and feels at this stage. That said, her stance isn't rigid. She's leaving the door open, not out of insecurity but of self-awareness.
The pressure to look a certain way isn't lost on Venus. And she's not here to shame anyone who makes a different call. "So many people are judging other people," she said. "But if it makes somebody feel good, that's all that matters."
In a cultural climate that often pits "natural" against "enhanced," Venus's view has no side-taking.
© Corbis via Getty ImagesVenus's Real Focus? What Her Body Can Do
While beauty standards evolve and trends shift, Venus stays rooted in what matters most: function over form. She laughed about her "80-year-old knees," but she's not letting that stop her. Earlier this year, at the Miami Open, she told reporters that she's still keeping her game sharp, even if she's not competing. "Let's be honest, I'm still keeping my own game ready, just in case," she said.
Playing Life by Her Own Rules
The most striking part of the interview wasn't just what Venus said about plastic surgery; it was what she revealed about her current mindset. "I really don't have a plan for the first time in my life," she confessed. After decades of strict tournament schedules and peak-performance goals, Venus finally gives herself the freedom to be. "Now it's like, 'Oh, I love playing. I'm gonna play every day.' And if I feel ready to play, then I'll play."
© Corbis via Getty ImagesVenus Williams's openness about cosmetic surgery is part of a bigger conversation that recognizes beauty as a deeply personal, ever-evolving thing.
At 45, Venus isn't clinging to youth. She's redefining what it looks like. She's giving herself room to change, and showing the rest of us how to do the same.
