Whether she’s winning tournaments or rocking the red carpet, tennis titan Maria Sharapova believes in the power of confidence to grant that much-needed extra edge.
Her Avon fragrance may have Luck in the name, but Sharapova doesn’t exactly believe in luck, per se: “I believe we all create our luck through hard work, and I’m happy to represent that message.”
Don’t worry — you don’t have to be a world-famous athlete to carry yourself with Sharapova’s signature poise. Below, Maria reveals some of her stay-calm, stay-cool secrets to Beauty for a Purpose:
Whatever you do, do it with passion.
“I’m passionate about tennis — I fell in love with the game when I was four years old. Today, I’m still madly in love. The sport is constantly changing — there are always new competitors, new opportunities, and new goals to be reached. My passion for the sport makes me confident because I truly love it. But when I’m not playing tennis, I’m also extremely passionate about design. I have a keen eye and love to keep up with fashion trends. Hopefully, with my passion for design, I will develop an expertise in the area over time.”
Stay disciplined — but also be kind to yourself.
“As a pro athlete, I have to be very cognizant of how my actions affect my performance. I have a lot of discipline when it comes to working out, eating well, and taking care of myself. It’s not always easy, but I know that it’s absolutely necessary to stay competitive. I just try to eat clean foods — simple proteins and fresh vegetables and brown rice. I’m a big believer in ‘everything in moderation’ and I also don’t think women should deprive themselves. It’s important to celebrate your victories. (I have a sweet tooth and love candy.) I also just feel a lot better when I know that I’m taking good care of myself — even if it means taking a day off from training to rest and relax.”
Set goals. Meet your goals. And then set new ones.
I’m a natural competitor, but I work hard to set new goals for myself — and push myself to continuously surpass them. Creating these goals for yourself — in both the everyday and in the long term — is key. You have to keep challenging yourself, because each time you accomplish one of your goals, you’ll have that much more confidence to conquer the next one.
Show strength of body, mind and character.
It’s not enough to just be physically fit. As women, we earn respect through strength of character and strength of conviction. In whatever you’re doing in life, I think it’s important to always stay true to your personal values and remind yourself on a daily basis what your inner strength is.
