Author: Astrid Kramer

Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles and transformed women’s tennis forever. But even as one of the greatest athletes of all time, she was repeatedly forced to defend not only how she played, but how she looked, behaved and lived. Her story reveals what happens when greatness collides with expectations that were never applied equally.

Olympic bronze medallist Ilona Maher is tackled on the rugby field and judged everywhere else. Instead of making herself smaller, she transformed criticism into confidence, built one of the largest platforms in women’s sport and proved that strength and femininity have never been opposites.