Serena Williams Says There's No Wrong Way to Be a Woman in Powerful Nike Oscars Ad

A 30-second spot featuring footage of Williams on the tennis court over the years aired during the Oscars telecast on ABC. The ad, from Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, includes a voiceover by the tennis star, who makes a powerful statement about womanhood, race and motherhood.

“As we approach International Women’s Day, Nike wanted to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of women everywhere and share our belief in gender equality, in this case, delivered by Serena Williams, the greatest athlete of all time,” said a representative for Nike in a statement.

The rep added, “We know this a culturally relevant topic that also resonates within Hollywood, so it was an ideal moment to leverage the platform to elevate this film and celebrate Serena Williams as a woman who has continued to break down barriers and inspire women everywhere.”