“I Was Rejected Many Times”: Serena Williams Opens Up About Facing Discrimination in Skincare Industry

Tennis legend Serena Williams has long been known not just for her unmatched dominance on the court, but also for her candid voice on issues of race, gender, and representation. Recently, Williams shared a deeply personal story during a beauty and wellness conference in Los Angeles, highlighting the subtle yet painful discrimination she experienced while simply trying to take care of her skin.

“I was rejected many times when I tried to get skincare treatments,” Serena said. “They’d look at me and say they didn’t have the right equipment or weren’t sure how to treat my skin type.”

The room fell silent as Serena recounted multiple occasions over the years when spas and dermatology clinics turned her away—often with vague excuses, sometimes with uncomfortable honesty. The message was clear: her Black skin wasn’t welcome, or at least not understood, in an industry that too often centers white beauty standards.

Williams, whose darker complexion is a source of pride and identity, said the repeated rejection felt like “being told, in subtle ways, that my skin was a problem.”

She explained how her initial reaction was confusion, then frustration. “At first, I thought maybe it was just a scheduling thing. But after the third or fourth time, you realize this isn’t random—it’s systemic.”

The 23-time Grand Slam champion, who has since launched her own beauty brand focused on inclusive skincare, said the experience fueled her mission to create space for women of color in the beauty world.

“We deserve to walk into a spa or a clinic and feel like we belong—like our skin is understood and valued,” she said.

Her story resonated with many in the room, including young entrepreneurs, beauty professionals, and fellow celebrities. For some, it was a reminder of the ongoing lack of diversity in dermatology education and skincare training. For others, it was a powerful example of how even the most accomplished Black women can face everyday discrimination.

According to a 2023 report by the Skin Health Alliance, fewer than 15% of U.S. skincare professionals receive formal training on treating darker skin tones. This gap often leads to misdiagnosis, poor treatment outcomes, and, as in Serena’s case, outright rejection.

Williams’ story has already sparked online conversations. On X (formerly Twitter), the hashtag #SkinCareForAll began trending, with thousands sharing similar experiences of being turned away or misunderstood by skincare providers.

In her closing remarks at the conference, Serena offered a message of both challenge and hope:

“I want every young Black girl to know: Your skin is not a problem. It’s powerful. It’s beautiful. And if someone can’t treat it with the care it deserves, then they’re not qualified to touch it—period.”

As Serena continues to push boundaries in business and advocacy, her voice remains a vital force—not just in calling out injustice, but in creating change.