Serena Williams DuJour Interview: Athlete Reveals She Can Sew Like A Pro And Talks Body Image

Serena Reveals A Fab Hidden Talent...
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Bet you didn't know the best tennis player in the world also has some serious seamstress skills. Well, now you do. Serena Williams dished about her knack for sewing and more in an interview with DuJour magazine this week.

"My mom taught me how to sew when I was 2 or 3, so I've been sewing for as long as I can remember," Serena told DuJour.

Back then the tennis pro's talent with the needle and thread was dedicated to making doll clothes, while these days its used more for wardrobe malfunctions.

Case in point, the 31-year-old sprung into action during a recent photo shoot when her dressed ripped. "I asked someone for the sewing kit and I just sewed it up right there," Serena said. "Everyone couldn't believe it. You could never tell it was broken."

And in case you forgot, Ms. Williams is also an author, actress, fashion designer and certified nail technician.

With so much endless talent, it's hard to believe that the 5-foot-9-inch, 155-pound beauty has struggled with self-esteem.

"I wasn't always confident," Williams revealed. "I just started feeling comfortable with myself about six or seven years ago."

The tennis pro points to societal body image pressures and comparing herself to her taller and slimmer sister, Venus, as reasons for her self doubt. Plus, we're sure articles comparing her fabulous figure to a "monster truck" don't help. But the Olympic gold-medalist seems to be maintaining her new found confidence one day at a time.

"I love who I am, and I encourage other people to love and embrace who they are. But it definitely wasn't easy—it took me a while."

Click HERE to check out Serena's entire interview with DuJour.

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Before You Go

Serena Williams' Best Style Moments
Serena Williams (01 of12)
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NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 22: Tennis Pro Serena Williams attends the 14th Annual BNP Paribas Taste Of Tennis at W New York Hotel on August 22, 2013 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for BNP Paribas) (credit:Getty Images)
Serena Williams (02 of12)
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LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON -- Episode 695 -- Pictured: Serena Williams arrives on September 10, 2012 -- (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
Serena Williams (03 of12)
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Serena Williams 25th Annual Footwear News Achievement Awards Held At MoMA New York City 11/29/11 © J. Graylock/jpistudios.com 310-657-9661 (credit:jpistudios.com)
Serena Williams (04 of12)
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Serena Williams Vanity Fair after Party for the 84th Academy Awards Sunset Towers West Hollywood, California Sunday February 26th, 2012 2/26/10 © Howard Wise/jpistudios.com 310-657-9661 (credit:jpistudios.com)
Serena Williams(05 of12)
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2012 U.S. Open Women's Singles champion Serena Williams poses for a photo with her trophy in Central Park, Monday, Sept. 10, 2012, in New York. This year alone, Williams claimed the U.S. Open trophy alongside the gold medals she won at the London Olympics and the silver plate she took home from Wimbledon. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) (credit:AP)
Serena Williams (06 of12)
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NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 22: Professional tennis player Serena Williams leaves the 'Late Show With David Letterman' taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater on August 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Ray Tamarra/FilmMagic)
Serena Williams (07 of12)
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LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Tennis player Serena Williams attends Google and T-Mobile's celebration of the launch of Google Music at Mr. Brainwash Studio on November 16, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
Serena Williams (08 of12)
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HOLLYWOOD, CA - JULY 14: Tennis player Serena Williams arrives at the launch party for Pharrell Williams' new vodka-based liqueur 'Qream' on July 14, 2011 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)
Serena Williams (09 of12)
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Tennis player Serena Williams speaks onstage at The 2011 ESPY Awards held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on July 13, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by John Shearer/WireImage)
Serena Williams (10 of12)
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NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 19: Professional tennis player Serena Williams attends the 2012 Range Rover Evoque New York City debut at Highline Stages on April 19, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Charles Eshelman/FilmMagic)
Serena Williams (11 of12)
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Serena Williams attends a pre-ESPYs party on July 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
Serena Williams (12 of12)
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 16: Professional tennis player Serena Williams attend a cocktail party benefitting FFAWN at Gucci Fifth Avenue on September 16, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/WireImage)