Serena Williams is stepping outside the tennis court — and her comfort zone — for a very important cause. In a new video clip, the athlete goes topless to encourage women to practice self-care that could help safeguard them against breast cancer.
Standing against a dark backdrop, Williams covers her breasts as she sings the 1990 Divinyls song “I Touch Myself.”
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Sharing the clip with her nearly 10 million Instagram followers, Williams wrote, “Yes, this put me out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to do it because it’s an issue that affects all women of all colors, all around the world. Early detection is key — it saves so many lives. I just hope this helps to remind women of that.”
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The music video, Williams goes on to explain, is part of the I Touch Myself Project for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which kicks off Monday. The song proves especially poignant when you consider its connection to this disease — Divinyls frontwoman Chrissy Amphlett died of breast cancer in 2013 at the age of 53. Her death led to the launch of the I Touch Myself Project in 2014.
Williams’ version of the ballad is a nod to the campaign’s original video, which featured 10 iconic Australian singers: Connie Mitchell, Deborah Conway, Kate Cerebrano, Katie Noonan, Little Pattie, Megan Washington, Olivia Newton-John, Sarah Blasko, Sarah McLeod and Suze DeMarchi.
Through the video, Williams and the campaign hope to remind women of the importance of doing regular breast self-checks and, if they have any concerns, scheduling an appointment to speak with a doctor.
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They also invite others to join the social media campaign by taking a photo of themselves holding their breasts (even over your clothes works!). Participants can then help raise awareness by sharing the photo, along with the hashtag #ITouchMyselfProject.
To learn more about the initiative and other ways you can help, visit the I Touch Myself Project’s website.
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