Honestly, if you go looking for a picture of Serena Williams now, you aren't going to find a woman winding up for a 120-mph serve. You’re going to find a woman who is, quite frankly, living three different lives at once.
She’s a venture capitalist. She’s a "stage mom" (her words, mostly). She’s a beauty mogul.
The internet has been buzzing lately because Serena doesn’t look like the "Serena" we grew up with on the baseline at Arthur Ashe. She looks different. Some people—the usual suspects on social media—have been making some pretty wild, and honestly unfair, assumptions about why. But when you actually look at what she’s been doing in 2025 and 2026, the real story is way more interesting than some grainy paparazzi shot.
That Recent Wedding Photo and the Internet Meltdown
Let’s talk about the photo that basically broke the tennis corner of Twitter/X a few weeks ago. It was from Venus Williams’ wedding in early January 2026. Yes, Venus finally tied the knot with Andrea Preti, and the photos were stunning. Serena was there, looking like a "modern-day Cinderella," as she often says lately.
But because the internet is a weird place, people started zooming in.
A handful of users claimed her skin looked lighter or "different." It got so loud that her husband, Alexis Ohanian, actually had to step in and shut down the bleaching rumors. It’s wild that we’re still doing this in 2026. If you’ve been following her journey, you know she’s been open about using GLP-1 medications (like Zepbound) to help with postpartum weight loss.
When your body composition changes that much—she’s down over 31 pounds—and you change your makeup style, you're going to look different. It’s not a conspiracy; it’s just life.
The New Aesthetic: "Makeup You Can Move In"
If you see a picture of Serena Williams now, she’s probably wearing WYN Beauty. That’s her own line she launched at Ulta. She spent years mixing her own formulas in hotel rooms because she couldn't find a foundation that didn’t melt off her face during a three-hour match in the Florida heat.
- The Chartreuse Vibe: All the packaging is that iconic tennis ball yellow.
- The Vibe: It’s "performance" makeup.
- The Names: The shades aren't just numbers; they’re affirmations.
She’s basically rebranded herself from the "Queen of the Court" to the "Queen of the Boardroom," and her look has shifted to match. It’s more polished, more "Old Hollywood meets Silicon Valley."
The "Evolving Away" Era: Is She Actually Coming Back?
Here is the thing that really has everyone refreshing their feeds. In late 2025, Serena’s name popped back up on the ITIA drug-testing pool list.
Hold on.
For the uninitiated, if you want to play professional tennis, you have to be in this pool for six months so they can test you randomly. You don't just do that for fun. It’s a massive headache. You have to tell them exactly where you are every single day.
Naturally, the world went nuts. "She's coming back for the 2026 US Open!"
Serena, being Serena, hopped on social media and said, "Omg yall I’m NOT coming back." She called the rumors a "wildfire."
But... why join the pool then?
The smartest theory from tennis insiders is that she wanted the option to play doubles with Venus one last time. Venus is still out there at 45, playing when she can. Seeing a picture of Serena Williams now on a practice court isn't unusual, but seeing her on a tournament entry list would be the sports story of the decade. As of right now, she’s eligible to play by mid-2026. Will she? Probably not. But she likes to keep us guessing.
Being a "Momma" First
If you look at her Instagram, the tennis content is maybe 5% of the total. The rest? It’s Olympia and Adira.
Adira River Ohanian is two now. She’s a "tough little cookie," according to Serena. There’s this adorable video of Serena teaching Adira her signature "Come on!" cheer. It’s peak mom content.
She told Byrdie not long ago that a Wimbledon trophy doesn't even "hold a candle" to volunteering at Olympia’s school. That’s a massive statement from someone who spent thirty years obsessed with being the greatest of all time. It seems she’s finally found something she loves more than winning.
What’s Actually in Her Garage and Her Portfolio?
She isn't just sitting at home. Serena Ventures is a powerhouse. She’s invested in over 85 companies, and 14 of them are unicorns (valued at over $1 billion).
- Angel City FC: She’s a part-owner of the LA-based women's soccer team.
- MasterClass: She was one of their earliest investors back when they were just a few people in a garage.
- WNBA: She’s been very vocal about getting more money into women's basketball.
When you see a picture of Serena Williams now at a business forum like the one in Miami, she’s talking about AI and women’s health. She’s writing the big checks now because, as she told Vogue, she realized that less than 2% of venture capital goes to women. She decided to be the change.
The Physical Transformation and the Health Talk
We have to address the elephant in the room: the weight loss. Serena has been incredibly transparent about her struggle to get back to her "fighting weight" after having Adira.
"I never was able to get to the weight I needed to be no matter what I did," she told People.
She’s been using GLP-1s, and honestly, it’s refreshing. Most celebs pretend they just "drank more water" or "did more Pilates." Serena is a GOAT because she’s honest. She worked harder than anyone on earth for 20 years, and when her body reached a limit, she used the science available to her.
What to Expect Next
So, what should you actually look for when you see a picture of Serena Williams now?
Look at the eyes. She doesn't have that "I'm going to destroy you" stare she had across the net from Sharapova. She looks... settled. She’s still the most competitive person in any room, but the room has changed.
If you're looking for actionable ways to follow her journey or learn from her "evolution," here is what you can actually do:
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- Check the ITIA Lists: If her name stays on that testing pool list past April 2026, the comeback rumors are going to get very real, very fast.
- Follow Serena Ventures: If you’re into business, her portfolio is a roadmap for where the world is going—specifically in women’s health and tech.
- Try the WYN Beauty line at Ulta: Especially the "Nothing to See" concealer. It’s genuinely good, even if you aren't playing a three-set match in the sun.
Serena isn't retired; she’s just playing a different game now. And based on everything we see, she’s still winning.