Serena Williams wore a custom Brandon Blackwood gown to the NAACP Image Awards on Saturday. This is such a great look on her and it feels authentic to where she is now in her life, as a 40-something retired tennis player, businesswoman and mother. It’s sophisticated but still sexy, still Serena. Serena picked up the Jackie Robinson Image Award, here’s her speech:
Viola Davis – I love how much purple she’s worn throughout the awards season, she looks incredible in jewel tones. Viola picked up the Image Award for Best Actress for The Woman King. Good – she should have gotten an Oscar nomination for it too.
The women of Abbott Elementary were out in force at the Image Awards too! Quinta Brunson wore Dundas, Sheryl Lee Ralph wore Pistis Ghana and Janelle James wore Christian Siriano. I love that Lisa Ann Walter came out too! These women are having the times of their lives getting all dressed up for awards shows.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
- PASADENA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 25: Janelle James wearing Christian Siriano PF23 arrives at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 758778502, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Janelle James, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
- PASADENA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 25: Lisa Ann Walter arrives at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 758779041, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Lisa Ann Walter, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
- PASADENA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 25: Quinta Brunson wearing Dundas arrives at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 758779210, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Quinta Brunson, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
- PASADENA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 25: American tennis player Serena Williams arrives at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 758779282, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Serena Williams, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
- PASADENA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 25: American tennis player Serena Williams arrives at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 758779315, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Serena Williams, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
- PASADENA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 25: Sheryl Lee Ralph wearing Pistis Ghana arrives at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 758779419, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Sheryl Lee Ralph, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
- PASADENA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – FEBRUARY 25: Viola Davis wearing custom Christian Dior and DeBeers jewelry and carrying Rodo arrives at the 54th Annual NAACP Image Awards held at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on February 25, 2023 in Pasadena, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 758779812, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Viola Davis, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
Not a fan of Serena’s look, for some reason I find it a little… frumpy? The style and dress combo ages her IMO. Maybe it’s the velvet?
Viola on the other hand… perfection!
The color, the draping on the dress, the accessories, the hair… she looks sexy and powerful and fun too.
(edited because I can’t spell powerful)
Agree with both assessments! Serena = unfortunate, Viola = goddess!
I disagree I think the style is great on her, but the fabric looks so heavy and competing with the style.
I feel the same way. Viola looked fantastic, the best of all!
Serena is an incredibly accomplished and gorgeous woman who cannot dress herself or do her hair and makeup in a flattering manner. I don’t get it. She’s stunning but won’t let a stylist work magic with her amazing face and figure. She often looks like she went to the mall at the last minute.
No notes for the other glamorous women. Super fun to look at. Me, I did groceries on my weekend…no makeup and heels for me…
Also she gets lip fillers on her upper lip, at the very least. Just…why. Idk, Serena comes across as insecure to me. Not on the court (or maybe, idk), but definitely in terms of her appearance. Maybe it’s due to her participation in the fashion industry.
I wish Serena would give the stylist of the Abbot ladies a call. They have been straight up KILLING IT all awards season with their looks. And they have boobs, hips and butts too. There is no excuse for Serena consistently not living up to her potential on these red carpets. She always looks unfinished and not as glam as I know she can afford to look.
Her make-up is again so bad. What do they keep doing to her eyebrows and why the bad lashes.
Sigh, I want the best for her.
Serena’s face looks… different lately. I’ll just say that.
I said this before and got roasted. She’s had…a lot of work and it’s obvious.
omg Quinta’s dress is incredible! But my favorite from this post is Janelle James. She just looks so crisp, perfect styling.
Damn but Viola Davis looks amazing. Radiant. I love Quinta Brunson’s dress too.
Agree on both counts, and SHERYL LEE RALPH!! I sucked in my breath and said, “ooh, Sheryl!” when I got to her. AMAZING.
I like the concept on Lisa Ann Walters’ dress, but the execution is not great IMO. The skirt looks exactly like the bathmats in my kids’ bathrooms (color and texture) and I can’t unsee it!!
Yeah, my son has something similar in his bathroom, in a more turquoise than teal color. I can’t unsee it either.
Viola and Sheryl Lee are living their best lives. They both look so gorgeous, and they are both having so much fun with this moment. I love them so much!
Serena needs to stop messing with her face!!
I think all the ladies look gorgeous. I love all their looks. My favorites are Serena and Janelle. All of the Abbott Elementary ladies have been on fire this award season and I love it.
the white woman with the aqua tulle skirt looks like those toilet paper cozy things that you used to see in bathrooms.
Janelle’s is my favorite, perfectly fit, fun but elegant. I love the Abbott ladies!
I liked Serena‘s gown, and the purple of Viola’s.
Sheryl Lee Ralph is PERFECTION! 🤩 Laura Linney’s SAG dress fabric looks very similar to Janelle James dress. Both ladies look fantastic.
Sheryl Lee Ralph and Janelle James are my favorite picks and hit it out of the park.
Has Viola always been so ripped?? She’s looking almost body builder status here and I’m shocked I never noticed it before
@JM- She has!! I have loooong been an admirer of Viola Davis’ bangin body! She ALWAYS looks amazing!
Love viola’s dress here. Fabulous
I’m glad Celebitchy covered at least some of the fashion at the NAACP Image Awards because I thought a lot of them looked just amazing (just not Serena’s). More so than the fashion looks at other award shows.
Well, damn Serena. She looked amazing. Her lips have settled and look really good. The gown and the fit were magnificent. Tennis queen and beauty queen.