The tennis champ had gone overboard with the foundation – but in the wrong shade. She’s not the first, and she certainly won’t be the last but poor Serena Williams suffered an embarrassing make-up fail on the red carpet.
The tennis ace can be forgiven (slightly) as she had only just flown into Perth, Western Australia for the Hopman Cup and just hours later she made an appearance at the Player’s Party.
Serena joined fellow tennis stars at Crown Perth wearing a figure-hugging canary yellow dress but it was her make-up that turned heads.
Whoops! Serena Williams looks like she’s had a nightmare here
The star made the unfortunate mistake of using foundation that was several shades too light.
Serena appeared to use contouring and highlighting – favoured by her BFF Kim Kardashian – but it all went horribly wrong.
Recently, the star was named as the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, and graced the cover.
While her fans are celebrating her success, some were quick to slam the raunchy cover shot as Serena reclines on a gold throne because her thighs look so slim.
Serena ’s muscular frame has been applauded and admired as she smashes her way to victory in tennis year after year, so it was a surprise that her bare legs were so slim for the new shoot.
The tennis champion has been the victim of nasty abuse over her body – with even Harry Potter author JK Rowling leaping to her defence during the Wimbledon championship recently – but she’s always been proud of her curves.
Few months ago, the 39-year-old said on Good Morning America: “This is me and I love me, and I’ve learned to love me. I’ve been like this my whole life, and I embrace me.
“And I love how I look. I love that I’m a full woman, and I’m strong and I’m powerful and I’m beautiful at the same time, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
But her thick thighs looked trimmed right down for the racy cover, where she poses in a black lace leotard while wearing patent black leather heels.
“Photoshopped #SerenaWilliams until she looked slim. Beautiful picture but she better with her normal body,” one disappointed fan wrote.
Another Twitter user said: “They got Serena Williams looking good on that Sports illustrate magazine but the Photoshop tf outta It!!!! (sic)”
While another asked: “Wait did @serenawilliams lose weight or did @SInow photoshop her cuz i don’t ever recall them thighs ever being that small”.
“Serena has made a very strong case as not only the greatest tennis player of her generation but of all time, and after the string of performances she put together in 2015, she is one of the most dominant athletes playing today,” Sports Illustrated said in a statement.
Serena Williams body controversy
While Serena didn’t mention anything about photoshop, but she did say: “This year was spectacular.
“For Sports Illustrated to recognize my hard work, dedication and sheer determination with this award gives me hope to continue on and do better.
As I always say, it takes a village— not just one person. This is not just an accomplishment for me, but for my whole team and all my fans. I am beyond honoured.”
A spokesperson for the magazine said: “This story has no legs, period. We did nothing to change the integrity of the cover image or likeness of Serena Williams.”
