Serena Williams

Serena Williams is one the top female tennis players in the world. Her sister Venus is a tennis star as well. Serena was the youngest of four girls born to Richard and Oracene Williams. The family moved from Saginaw, Michigan, to Southern California. But life was tough in the notoriously dangerous Compton neighborhood. Serena and her sisters started playing tennis at an early age, but often feared the threat of violence around them when they played.

Serena excelled as a junior player, and her father sent her to a tennis school in Florida so she could become a professional player. She made her professional debut in 1995 while still only 14. She first broke into the top 100 world rankings in 1997, and had moved into the top 20 by 1998. She also won her first professional titles in doubles at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Both Serena and Venus have had very successful careers since then. They also signed a $12 million sponsorship deal with athletic apparel manufacturer Puma. Aside from tennis, Serena has also made numerous TV appearances, including guest spots on The Simpsons, ER, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She is also an aspiring designer, attending the Art Institute of Florida and designing clothes for Puma. She has since worked out a $40 million sponsorship deal with Nike. She also has her own line of non-tennis clothing called Aneres (Serena spelled backwards), which will be sold in boutiques in Miami and Los Angeles.