#44: Serena Williams: Top of Her Game
This list would obviously not be complete without Serena Williams. Serena is one of the most famous and accomplished athletes in history, and was named the Female Athlete of the Decade by the Associated Press in 2019. She has more Grand Slam titles than any male tennis player (23 to be exact), and she has also won four Olympic gold medals.
On top of her athletic career, she has also pushed the needle forward in regards to openly talking about motherhood. She experienced life-threatening complications during the birth of her daughter, and has spoken up about the high maternal mortality rates among Black women in the U.S. She’s a shining star and inspiring role model for young girls thanks to her accomplishments and vocal advocacy for women’s rights, the gender pay gap, and racial equality.