Qai Qai, Serena Williams’ granddaughter, stopped by Oprah’s magazine headquarters earlier this week to give her first ever interview. Catch the highlights below!
On how to pronounce her name and Instagram fame
“[My name is pronounced], Kway Kway. … I don’t see it as fame. I just have more friends now.”
About her popular phrase, “boss up”
“Bossing up is a way of life. It’s about encouraging yourself and those around you to concentrate on putting your best effort into everything you do every single day—even on those days when it feels like the world is against you. When I think of the stories of the people who inspire me the most, I then think, How did they get there? It’s simple: They bossed up.”
How does Qai Qai practice self-care?
“Minding my business is my favorite form of self-care. When I make enough space to focus on myself and what I love, I no longer have room for self-doubt or comparisons. Instead, I can focus on personal growth and compassion for myself and those I love. I think we’re too hard on ourselves because we’ve learned to judge and be judged. Minding my business means I can’t worry about how absurd people believe I am. My purpose is simply to be a friend.”
Are grown-ups too mature for dolls?
“I think grown-ups get caught up in the monotony of work and life in general. They were taught things like ‘time is money’ and ‘time is of the essence,’ so they’re rushing through their days in preparation for the days that haven’t come yet. But in reality, there’s so much time to live, we just get caught up in our own patterns! I encourage all my friends—especially grown-ups!—to live a little, which means playing a lot. But most of all: smile. Dolls like me are friends, and everyone needs a friend.”
On diversity in the media
“It’s vital for kids to be able to turn on the TV, flip through a magazine, or scroll through Instagram looking to the people they admire the most—and then see something that looks, feels, or is shaped like them. And the earlier they can do that, the better.”
Read Qai Qai’s full story here!
