Serena Williams is back in fighting shape after giving birth to her daughter, Olympia, over a year ago, but she is still reminding other mothers that their post-pregnancy stomachs are something to be proud of.

In a candid interview with Allure magazine, the 37-year-old tennis legend opened up about getting back in competitive shape after welcoming her daughter. While her physical transformation was a ‘slow and steady’ process, she was admittedly in awe of her postpartum body.

‘After I came out [of the hospital], I had a stomach, but I thought, “This is kind of cool.” I have a stomach because the 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 was there,’ she said.

In awe: Serena Williams, 37, revealed in an interview with Allure that she thought her postpartum stomach was ‘kind of cool’

Throwback: ‘I have a stomach because the 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 was there,’ the tennis star explained. Serena shared this photo two weeks after welcoming her daughter, Olympia, in September 2017

Self-confidence: The mother-of-one said she is now ‘feeling pretty good’ about her body, noting that her bounce back was ‘slow and steady’

Serena couldn’t help but smile while looking back at her first pregnancy.

‘I loved being pregnant,’ she said. ‘I loved everything about it. I was one of those weird people that loved being pregnant. Those annoying people.’

Little Olympia was delivered via emergency C-section on September 1, 2017, after Serena’s heart rate dropped dramatically during labor.

Bundle of joy: Serena, pictured in May 2017, admitted she was on of those ‘annoying people’ who ‘loved being pregnant’

Serena wrote about her life-threatening experience in an essay published by CNN in February.

She suffered a ‘slew of health complications’ during ‘six days of uncertainty,’ developing a pulmonary embolism 24 hours after her 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢’s arrival.

Six months after fighting for her life in the hospital, Serena returned to tennis and won her first professional match following the birth of her daughter.

‘I’m feeling pretty good about my body,’ she told Allure.

‘I worked hard at it in the past eight months to get back from the 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢. It hasn’t been easy. I’m not 21 anymore. But I did it slow and steady.’

Serena’s daughter turned one year old in September, and the mom is already noticing Olympia’s physical resemblance to her.

‘I have a picture from when I was, like, two years old. My arms are ripped. If you look at my daughter, she has a very similar body type,’ she said.

Superstar: Serena looks incredible on the cover of Allure magazine’s February issue

Taking after mom: Serena said one-year-old Olympia has a ‘very similar body type’ to the one she had as a toddler

Life lesson: The mother-of-one wants to teach Olympia that beauty comes from the inside