So, you see pictures of Serena Williams, right? And often, folks are talking about her outfits, on court, off court, even her swimming suits. And you gotta admit, whatever she wears, she just owns it. There’s this power, this confidence that just comes right through. It’s not really about the brand or the style, but how she carries herself in it. That got me thinking a while back.
I saw this one photo, I don’t even remember where, but she was in a swimsuit, looking strong, looking comfortable. And it just stuck with me. Not in a ‘I want that exact suit’ kind of way, because, let’s be real, we’re different people. But it was the vibe. The ‘I’m here, I’m good’ vibe. And I thought, man, I wish I had a fraction of that when it comes to swimwear.
So, I decided to do a little experiment, a bit of a personal practice, you could say. See, I’ve always been that person who buys a swimsuit and then buys three different cover-ups to go with it. The thought of just walking around a pool or a beach without something draped over me? Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. I’d get into the water super quick and get out even quicker, wrapping a towel around myself like my life depended on it.
This one time, we had a family get-together planned, a barbecue by my brother’s pool. Usually, my routine would be:
- Wear the swimsuit under my clothes.
- Keep clothes on as long as humanly possible.
- If swimming is unavoidable, shed clothes at the last second, dash to the pool.
- Post-swim, towel on, cover-up on, ASAP.
But seeing that Serena picture, I thought, enough is enough. I’m a grown adult. Why am I so ridiculously self-conscious? It’s just a swimsuit. People are there to swim and have fun, not to judge my every perceived flaw.
So, my ‘practice’ began. First, I went through my drawer of shame, where all my rarely-worn swimsuits lived. I had this one, a bright blue one-piece, that I’d bought ages ago because I loved the color, but then I chickened out of ever wearing it in public. It felt too… visible. This time, I pulled it out. This was the one.
The day of the barbecue arrived. I’m not going to lie, my stomach was in knots. I put on the blue swimsuit. Looked in the mirror. All the usual negative thoughts started bubbling up. ‘Is it too tight here?’ ‘Does this look weird?’ I almost grabbed my old, safe, boring black swimsuit. But then I remembered why I was doing this. Deep breath.
I decided, no cover-up until I actually felt cold. Just the swimsuit. I walked out into the backyard. My heart was pounding, I swear. I was expecting… I don’t know, gasps? Silence? Laser eyes? Nothing. My nieces and nephews were splashing, the guys were by the grill, my sister was setting out snacks. Business as usual.
My sister-in-law glanced over and said, ‘Oh, I love that blue on you! New suit?’ And that was it. The sky didn’t fall. I actually managed a ‘Thanks!’ and even smiled. I walked over to the pool, sat on the edge, dangled my feet in. And you know what? It was… fine. Better than fine, actually. I felt a bit lighter, not being swaddled in layers.
Later, I even got in the pool and played with the kids. Properly played, not just a quick dip. I wasn’t constantly thinking about how I looked. I was just… there. Enjoying the sun, the water, the family. It was a small thing, really. Just wearing a different swimsuit and skipping a sarong. But it felt like a huge step for me.
This whole Serena Williams swimming suit thing, for me, it wasn’t about fashion. It was about seeing someone so unapologetically herself, and it sparked something. My little practice session wasn’t about achieving a perfect body or finding the perfect suit. It was about practicing being a little more comfortable in my own skin, a little braver. And I think that’s a practice worth continuing. It really showed me how much I was holding myself back with my own thoughts. Funny how a picture can do all that, eh?