Serena Williams Won a Grand Slam While Pregnant in This Sports Bra

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Here is a fact: I exercise four days a week. Here’s another fact: I got a breast reduction three years ago. I tell you these two things because they are what led me to doing something I never thought I’d do: buy a product because a celebrity was hawking it on Instagram.

Before my reduction, I wore what can only be described as body armor to keep my rack from giving me a black eye. Post-reduction, I spent much too much on high-end sports bras recommended to me by my surgeon. They were lovely (hi, Chantelle “high intensity” sport bras!) but then... I gained weight in my chest and my newly small boobs started moving back up the cup-size spectrum. This is a thing, often not discussed, that can happen after a breast reduction if you’re prone to gaining weight in your breasts. While it is both a risk and, to be honest, a bummer, the benefits of the reduction are great, and I’d still recommend it. Anyway, this body update meant that I was on the hunt for a sports bra again.

Enter Serena Williams, promoting her favorite sports bra, Berlei, on Instagram. Apparently, she’s been wearing them for 18 years. In those 18 years, Serena has won 23 grand slam single titles, one of which we now know she won while pregnant. Can you imagine anything more inspiring? Those bras helped her do it! They were there when she won every silver plate and when she hit serves right into the net. They were probably even there for her when she learned the choreography for Beyoncé’s "Sorry."

So I bought a few to wear while I complain my way through squats, and I’m so happy I did. The bras keep me secure when I’m cycling. They don’t pinch or slide anywhere when I push weight over my head. And they’re so comfortable that — don’t tell anyone this — I sometimes wear them throughout the whole day. I’ve been on both sides of the boob spectrum now and I can say that, like Serena, this bra is good at its job.