Serena Williams walks NYFW runway with two-year-old daughter Alexis

Serena Williams has won praise for walking the runway at New York Fashion Week with her two-year-old daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.

Following a showing of the tennis champion’s eponymous womenswear collection, Serena, Williams appeared on the catwalk with her infant in her arms and waved to the crowd.

For the appearance, Williams wore a python print skirt and black lace shirt, which she teamed with a pair of black high top trainers.

The athlete’s ensemble was paralleled by that of her daughter’s, who wore a black T-shirt and a grey skirt.

Several members of Williams’ A-list inner circle turned up for the runway show and were photographed sitting together on the front row.

Kim Kardashian West, for example, watched on wearing a slinky silver sleeveless top with black jeans while actor La La Anthony sat alongside her in a sleek all-black ensemble.

As for Williams’ new collection, which is available to shop for the next 48 hours, a neutral palette of creams, chesnuts and khakis occupied most of the basic wardrobe items, while splashes of cheetah print and neon green added a playfulness to the odd cowl neck dress and coat.

The collection was designed to celebrate “women who turn fear into courage and doubt into confidence”, reads a statement on Williams’ website.

Speaking to Glamour backstage at the show, the designer explained it’s “really important” for her clothing to be “all-inclusive”.

“I really love the word inclusivity and not exclusivity — I think that’s just better,” she said.

“I think it’s so important for everyone to feel like they can see an outfit and think, ‘Oh, that looks like me and I feel good in it.’ It doesn’t matter what color they are.”