Serena Williams hosts The Espys wearing seven glamorous get-ups and jokes: 'Any opportunity to wear 16 outfits in three hours, I'm taking it'

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Serena Williams donned seven glamorous get-ups to host her very first awards show - 2024 ESPY Awards - at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday.

'You may be wondering why am I doing this,' the 42-year-old retired tennis champ said onstage.

'First of all, any opportunity to wear 16 outfits in three hours, I'm taking it.'

Serena - who relies on stylist Kesha McLeod - stood out in a pink strapless mini-dress featuring ostrich feather trim.

Make-up artist Sheika Daley fully contoured Williams' complexion for the ABC telecast - defining her brows, giving her a smoky eye, pink cheeks, and a glossy pout.

Serena Williams donned seven glamorous get-ups to host her very first awards show - 2024 ESPY Awards - at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday

Serena Williams donned seven glamorous get-ups to host her very first awards show - 2024 ESPY Awards - at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Thursday

The 42-year-old retired tennis champ said onstage: 'You may be wondering why am I doing this. First of all, any opportunity to wear 16 outfits in three hours, I'm taking it'

The 42-year-old retired tennis champ said onstage: 'You may be wondering why am I doing this. First of all, any opportunity to wear 16 outfits in three hours, I'm taking it'

Hairstylist Angela Meadows coiffed seven distinct wigs for each look, which also came with different high heels.

The 12-time ESPY Award winner - who runs her own clothing company, cosmetics company, and jewelry company - left little to the imagination in a panty-flashing black mesh pencil dress beneath a waist-cinching corset.

Serena - who earned a fashion design degree from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale - wore a red halter cocktail dress embellished with feathers and scale-like sequins.

Williams was wearing that dress when she posed with her royal pals - Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex - after he received the Pat Tillman Award in recognition of his service in the British Armed Forces and work with the Invictus Games.

'Please, Harry and Meghan, try not to breathe too much tonight because this is my night, and I don't want to be overshadowed by the accusation that you guys are taking up too much oxygen,' she joked during her monologue.

The In The Arena producer-star looked eccentric in a red leather double-breasted blazer dress, which featuring massive shoulder pads.

Serena's second blazer dress was black and featured a silver feather over the shoulder on to the bodice.

Williams was wearing that look when she joined her sister Venus Williams and Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson in shaming a recent Benedictine College commencement speaker for his misogynistic comments praising trad-wives.

Serena stood out in a pink strapless mini-dress featuring ostrich feather trim
She relies on stylist Kesha McLeod

Serena - who relies on stylist Kesha McLeod - stood out in a pink strapless mini-dress featuring ostrich feather trim

Make-up artist Sheika Daley fully contoured Williams' complexion for the ABC telecast - defining her brows, giving her a smoky eye, pink cheeks, and a glossy pout

Make-up artist Sheika Daley fully contoured Williams' complexion for the ABC telecast - defining her brows, giving her a smoky eye, pink cheeks, and a glossy pout

Hairstylist Angela Meadows coiffed seven distinct wigs for each look, which also came with different high heels

Hairstylist Angela Meadows coiffed seven distinct wigs for each look, which also came with different high heels

The 12-time ESPY Award winner left little to the imagination in a panty-flashing black mesh pencil dress beneath a waist-cinching corset
She runs her own clothing company, cosmetics company, and jewelry company

The 12-time ESPY Award winner - who runs her own clothing company, cosmetics company, and jewelry company - left little to the imagination in a panty-flashing black mesh pencil dress beneath a waist-cinching corset

Serena - who earned a fashion design degree from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale - wore a red halter cocktail dress embellished with feathers and scale-like sequins

Serena - who earned a fashion design degree from The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale - wore a red halter cocktail dress embellished with feathers and scale-like sequins

Williams was wearing that dress when she posed with her royal pals - Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex - after he received the Pat Tillman Award in recognition of his service in the British Armed Forces and work with the Invictus Games

Williams was wearing that dress when she posed with her royal pals - Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex - after he received the Pat Tillman Award in recognition of his service in the British Armed Forces and work with the Invictus Games

The In The Arena producer-star looked eccentric in a red leather double-breasted blazer dress
It featured massive shoulder pads

The In The Arena producer-star looked eccentric in a red leather double-breasted blazer dress, which featuring massive shoulder pads

Serena's second blazer dress was black and featured a silver feather over the shoulder on to the bodice

Serena's second blazer dress was black and featured a silver feather over the shoulder on to the bodice

Williams was wearing that look when she joined her sister Venus Williams and Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson in shaming Harrison Butker, who praised trad-wives during his Benedictine College commencement speech

Williams was wearing that look when she joined her sister Venus Williams and Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson in shaming Harrison Butker, who praised trad-wives during his Benedictine College commencement speech

The 28-year-old Kansas City Chiefs kicker (M) - whose own mother is a clinical medical physicist - was seated in the audience, but the camera did not cut to his reaction

The 28-year-old Kansas City Chiefs kicker (M) - whose own mother is a clinical medical physicist - was seated in the audience, but the camera did not cut to his reaction

'Enjoy women's sports, they're just like other sports,' Venus began.

'Except you, Harrison Butker. We don't need you,' Serena scoffed.

'At all... like, ever,' Brunson added.

The 28-year-old Kansas City Chiefs kicker - whose own mother is a clinical medical physicist - was seated in the audience, but the camera did not cut to his reaction.

For her sixth look, the four-time Olympic gold medalist wore a leopard-print top featuring a shoulder train with black slim pants, pairing the look with black Steve Madden heels.

Serena kicked off the sporty awards ceremony joking about Drake, Travis Kelce, and Shohei Ohtani while wearing her best ensemble of the evening.

For her sixth look, the four-time Olympic gold medalist wore a leopard-print top featuring a shoulder train
She also wore black slim pants

For her sixth look, the four-time Olympic gold medalist wore a leopard-print top featuring a shoulder train with black slim pants, which she paired with Steve Madden heels

Serena kicked off the sporty awards ceremony joking about Drake, Travis Kelce, and Shohei Ohtani while wearing her best ensemble of the evening

Serena kicked off the sporty awards ceremony joking about Drake, Travis Kelce, and Shohei Ohtani while wearing her best ensemble of the evening

Williams smoldered in a custom Giorgio Armani Privé black cady gown over a silver bejeweled bra and matching trim on the train
She rocked a gold Audemars Piguet watch

Williams - who rocked a gold Audemars Piguet watch - smoldered in a custom Giorgio Armani Privé black cady gown over a silver bejeweled bra and matching trim on the train

The Michigan-born athlete was supported at The Espys by her 6ft5in husband - Alexis Ohanian Sr. (R) - wearing a 'gentleman's mullet' with his classic black Gucci suit and turquoise Nike sneakers

The Michigan-born athlete was supported at The Espys by her 6ft5in husband - Alexis Ohanian Sr. (R) - wearing a 'gentleman's mullet' with his classic black Gucci suit and turquoise Nike sneakers

The married couple of six years proudly posed with their six-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., who looked cute with her waist-length braids and silver-patterned Dolce & Gabbana dress

The married couple of six years proudly posed with their six-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., who looked cute with her waist-length braids and silver-patterned Dolce & Gabbana dress

While in their VIP seats, the 41-year-old 776 founder Instastoried a silly father-daughter selfie captioned: 'Had the best date!'

While in their VIP seats, the 41-year-old 776 founder Instastoried a silly father-daughter selfie captioned: 'Had the best date!'

On August 22, Serena and Alexis - who originally met in 2016 at a hotel in Rome - will celebrate the first birthday of their daughter Adira River Ohanian (pictured March 26)

On August 22, Serena and Alexis - who originally met in 2016 at a hotel in Rome - will celebrate the first birthday of their daughter Adira River Ohanian (pictured March 26)

Williams - who rocked a gold Audemars Piguet watch - smoldered in a custom Giorgio Armani Privé black cady gown over a silver bejeweled bra and matching trim on the train.

The Michigan-born athlete was supported at The Espys by her 6ft5in husband - Alexis Ohanian Sr. - wearing a 'gentleman's mullet' with his classic black Gucci suit and turquoise Nike sneakers.

The married couple of six years proudly posed with their six-year-old daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., who looked cute with her waist-length braids and silver-patterned Dolce & Gabbana dress.

While in their VIP seats, the 41-year-old 776 founder Instastoried a silly father-daughter selfie captioned: 'Had the best date!'

On August 22, Serena and Alexis - who originally met in 2016 at a hotel in Rome - will celebrate the first birthday of their daughter Adira River Ohanian.