Serena Williams Says Women ‘Deserve Better’ When It Comes to Their Health, Wants Daughters to ‘Listen to Themselves’

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Serena Williams’ instincts made her one of the greatest tennis players of all time — and have served her equally well off the court, too.

After opening up about her own health issues (including a pulmonary embolism following the birth of her first daughter and a recent branchial cyst), Williams is encouraging other women to take charge of their own health in her role as Women’s Health Advisor for Ritual.

“I want other women to know: you’re not alone,” she tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Your body is always talking to you. Listen to it. Trust it.”

The 23-time Grand Slam champion is encouraging women to ask questions, read labels, and advocate for themselves in doctor’s offices and beyond, a message she’s been sharing since the the near-death experience she had following an emergency C-section with daughter Alexis Olympia in 2017, and the pulmonary embolism and blood clots that occurred afterwards.

In the February 2018 Vogue, the legendary tennis star recalled having to fight to get her medical team to listen to her concerns, which likely saved her life. “After giving birth, I knew something was wrong, but I had to fight to be believed.,” she tells PEOPLE. “Not everyone gets that chance.”

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Serena Williams for Ritual
The experience of sharing her own experience in the hopes that it might help others informed her decision to take on this new role at Ritual, she says.

“I’ve spent my whole life learning about my body, on the court, through pregnancy, through recovery. I’ve had to fight to be heard, even when I knew something was wrong,” Williams says. “Being part of Ritual isn’t about putting my name on something … it’s about helping women get the tools and trust they deserve.”

First and foremost, she says, she wants to debunk the myth that women are “supposed to feel tired or uncomfortable and just push through. I’ve been there. Even with everything I know about my body, I’ve had moments where I didn’t feel right and couldn’t get answers. We deserve better.”

It’s a message she wants to share with her daughters, Olympia, 7, and Adira, 1. Williams, who has been posting plenty of gym selfies lately and enjoys documenting her own fitness milestones as well as adorable moments of being active with her girls, says she’s already thinking about how to communicate these lessons to them.

“I want them to feel strong and confident in their bodies from a young age,” she says. “We talk about movement, rest, and how our bodies feel, not how they look. Health isn’t one size fits all, and I want them to feel empowered to listen to themselves.”

Serena Williams Instagram Serena Williams and Olympia playing tennis
Says Katerina Schneider, Ritual founder and CEO, in a statement, “The vision for Ritual has always been to set higher standards for women’s health … And when it comes to standards, whose are higher than Serena Williams’? She’s an inspiration, not just as the GOAT athlete, but as a powerful mother, an advocate and a voice for women everywhere.” Their partnership will include a “Serena’s Favorites” product edit and ongoing moments with the athlete throughout the year continuing to promote the message that women’s health should be a critical focus for all.

“I want to help normalize listening to your body,” Williams says. “Ask what something means, why it matters, what it’s doing to your body. Whether it’s your doctor or a product label, don’t be afraid to ask. That’s how you stay in control.”

Williams, who takes a daily multivitamin as “part of how I set my day,” says the partnership is personal to her: “I remember trying Ritual years ago because I actually needed it. And now, I get to help shape the future of it.”