Why Serena Williams' Eyebrow Shaping Video Deserves A Second Watch

Now I want to point out that I don't think there is anything wrong with Serena Williams getting her eyebrows shaped... Nor is there anything wrong with Serena choosing to share a photo of the experience, nor sharing the fact that Twitter trolls' spiteful comments have affected her. What unsettled me was Serena admission that her #haters have "won".

When a celebrity shares a photo while having a beauty treatment we will often cover it on HuffPost UK Style as we love getting a glimpse into the beauty routines of the rich and famous.

However, when Serena Williams uploaded an Instagram video showing her getting her eyebrows shaped we avoided covering it as a news story because... well, to put it bluntly... it made us feel uncomfortable.

It wasn't the close up of the beautician wielding the scissors so close to Serena's face that made us squirm, it was what she had written in the caption:

"Lol finally getting them shaped! Hahahha #haters I love you!!! Hahah but I still like them all natural! But for now you win lol"

The #haters she refers to took to Twitter in their droves to comment on all aspects of Serena's appearance following her Wimbledon matches.

Now I want to point out that I don't think there is anything wrong with Serena Williams getting her eyebrows shaped - as Beyoncé would say, she's a grown woman, she can do whatever she wants.

Nor is there anything wrong with Serena choosing to share a photo of the experience, nor sharing the fact that Twitter trolls' spiteful comments have affected her.

What unsettled me was Serena's admission that her #haters have "won".

They have beaten her - something that no woman at Wimbledon was able to do.

The Instagram post should make Serena's Twitter haters feel ashamed, as it is proof that they aren't just sending their hateful messages out into the abyss - they have a very real, and very human, recipient.

But I have a sinking suspicion that many of those trolls will be gloating and relishing their power to chip away at a champion athlete's confidence.

Sadly, the Twitter vitriol against Serena in the face of her success is not unusual.

Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has previously spoken about how she had a nose job after being bombarded with abuse on Twitter, while world champion gymnast Beth Tweddle was subjected to a stream of tweets slating her appearance while competing in the Olympics.

Serena's video is the latest in a long line of high profile evidence of the effect trolling can have and that is why it deserves a second watch:

To remind ourselves that even after a colossal accomplishment our self-confidence is fragile and we all have a responsibility to each other to think before we tweet.

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