Zendaya Channels Venus and Serena Williams by Recreating Their Iconic 1998 Vogue Shoot, Beads and All

Zendaya is capping off her tenniscore Challengers press tour by honoring tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams.

The 27-year-old actress and her longtime stylist Law Roach debuted the star’s latest tennis-themed look — a recreation of the sisters’ iconic Vogue photoshoot from 1998. In photos shared on Instagram by Roach on Thursday, April 18, Zendaya perches on a couch in a massive black and white striped gown and a beaded wig.

In the Williams’ 1998 portrait, shot by Annie Leibovitz, the sisters pose on a couch in matching black-and-white gowns by Carolina Herrera and beaded hair.

“An ode to the GREATS @venuswilliams @serenawilliams We thank you for all you have done!” Roach wrote in the caption of the carousel, which featured two images of Zendaya as well as the original 1998 photo. “With love, Z and Law.”

Roach also thanked Wes Gordon, the creative director of Carolina Herrera, as well as the fashion house for assisting them with the recreation.

Serena reflected on the 1998 photoshoot during her 2022 installment of Vogue’s video series Life in Looks.

“We were really young,” Williams said as she looked back at the image. “We still had our beads and we still had our youth.”

Zendaya’s recreation comes as the press tour for her film Challengers, in which she plays a tennis player turned coach, comes to an end. The actress and her stylist have taken every opportunity to embrace tennis-inspired fashion along the way, from tennis ball-adorned shoes to chic athleisure.

After the film’s Los Angeles premiere on Tuesday, April 16, Zendaya wore perhaps her most on-the-nose ensemble yet. For the afterparty at Funke in Beverly Hills, she changed into a neon, tennis-ball colored dress with a halter design and plunging neckline. The floor-length gown, which was designed by Celia Kritharioti, also featured a thigh-high split in the middle and a tennis ball at the bottom of the deep V-neck.

Earlier in the evening, Zendaya wore a Vera Wang gown  with a black lace and satin corset bodice with a baby pink satin ballgown skirt.

The next day, Zendaya shared a photo on her Instagram Stories of Venus Williams attending the premiere.

“Wow wow wow…this is so special,” Zendaya wrote when she reposted Williams’ photo from the red carpet.

In Venus’ photo, she poses in a dark gray mini dress by Vivienne Westwood.

“Serve @challengersmovie,” she said in the caption.

Source People.com