Serena Williams graciously accepted the Fashion Icon honor on Monday night (Nov. 6) during the 2023 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards, presented by Amazon Fashion.
Taking place at the American Museum of Natural History, the star-studded affair recognizes the industry’s leading voices. CFDA Chairman Thom Browne welcomed honorees, nominees, and guests with opening remarks at the start of the ceremony, hosted by actress Anne Hathaway.
According to the Associated Press, the world-renowned athlete was presented her historic recognition by Kim Kardashian, who hailed Williams as “fearless, heroic, authentic, iconic — the greatest of all time.”
In accepting the Fashion Icon Award, Williams became the first athlete to receive the honor. Previous recipients of the award include Rihanna, Beyoncé, Lenny Kravitz, and Zendaya.
“I knew when I was a little girl that I was different, so I explored fashion and style as a way to distinguish myself,” shared the mother of two in her speech. “In many ways for me, the tennis courts became my runway, and the U.S. Open was my own New York Fashion Week,” continuing to detail her playing field as a place to express “my individuality and my confidence and most importantly, my culture.”
In celebration of Hip-Hop 50, the 2023 CFDA Awards also featured a tribute to the genre with a short film by director Hype Williams, introduced by Mary J. Blige, and with music by Pharrell. The visual featured Missy Elliott, LL Cool J, June Ambrose, Biz Markie, and Salt-N-Pepa.
Attendees included LaKeith Stanfield, Saweetie, Lil Yachty, Ayesha Curry, Teyana Taylor, Westside Gunn, and more. Take a look at the effortlessly stylish red carpet photos and the full winners list below.
2023 CFDA WINNERS AND HONOREES
- American Womenswear Designer of the Year – Catherine Holstein, Khaite
- American Menswear Designer of the Year – Willy Chavarria
- American Accessory Designer of the Year – Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen The Row
- Shop With Google American Emerging Designer of the Year – Rachel Scott, Diotima
- Board of Directors Tribute – Vera Wang
- Founder’s Award in Honor of Eleanor Lambert Domenico – De Sole
- Amazon Innovation Award – Gwyneth Paltrow, Goop
- Fashion Icon Award – Serena Williams
- Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award – Maria Cornejo
- Media Award in Honor of Eugenia Sheppard -Alina Cho
- Environmental Sustainability – Award Mara Hoffman
- International Designer of the Year – Jonathan Anderson, JW Anderson and Loewe
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Mary J. Blige at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Serena Williams at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Lil Yachty at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Saweetie at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Teyana Taylor at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Westside Gunn attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Maxwell Osborne at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Lori Harvey at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards –
La La Anthony at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Winnie Harlow at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
LaQuan Smith at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Sophie Wilde at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Bethann Hardison at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Sergio Hudson at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Lindsay Peoples at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Alton Mason at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Kai Newman and Rachel Scott at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
CFDA President CaSandra Diggs at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Stephane Bak at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Richie Shazam at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Rosario Dawson at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Tokischa at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Ayesha Curry at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Teyana Taylor and Christopher John Rogers at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Serena Williams at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Winnie Harlow at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Quinta Brunson at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Jeremy O. Harris at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Wisdom Kaye at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Maxwell Osborne at the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards held at the American Museum of Natural History on November 6, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Law Roach attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
LaKeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson attend the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Jordyn Woods attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Paloma Elsesser attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Ariana DeBose attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Sergio Hudson and Stephanie Horton attend the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
Kim Kardashian attends the 2023 CFDA Awards at American Museum of Natural History on November 06, 2023 in New York City.
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2023 CFDA Fashion Awards
LaKeith Stanfield attends the 2023 CFDA Fashion Awards2023 CFDA Fashion Awards