Venus Williams, 6'1"
Athlete. Entrepreneur. Best-selling author. Olympic Gold medalist. Activist. Designer. Daughter. Sister. Champion.
Biography
Growing up in a tight-knit family and coached by her parents Richard and Oracene, Williams entered the pro ranks of the Women's Tennis Association when she was 14 years old. Her attacking style and impressive physicality immediately caught the attention of the tennis industry. Soon, the whole world was watching Williams rack up 43 WTA Tour titles, three Olympic Gold medals, break the record for fastest serve ever recorded (129 mph) and compete in the longest finals match in Wimbledon history (two hours and 45 minutes)
In the early 2000s, she enrolled in an interior design program and became a Certified Interior Decorator. In 2002 she started V*Starr Interiors, a company that specializes in commercial and residential interior design. She followed that by obtaining an associated degree in fashion design and launching EleVen, her line of signature fashionable sportswear.
In July of 2010, HarperCollins published "Come To Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession" by Williams and co-author Kelly E. Carter. In the book, Williams interviews such luminaries as Sir Richard Branson, Condoleezza Rice, and Vera Wang about how their early experiences as competitive athletes helped forge their successful careers. A topic close to her heart, the book was a labor of love for Williams. That labor paid off when the book became a New York Times best seller.