Venus Williams has always been a powerhouse on the tennis court, but recently, she’s also been turning heads with a stunning new hair colour. Teaming up with Schwarzkopf Professional, Venus celebrated the relaunch of IGORA VIBRANCE Demi-Permanent Colour by embracing a bold blonde hue.

“When I first saw the colour, I thought, ‘Gosh, it looks just like Serena,’” Venus shared with PEOPLE, reflecting on her initial reaction to her new honey blonde shade for the brand’s “Up Your Game” campaign. She immediately sent photos to her sister, Serena Williams, remarking, “I’ve actually never gone that blonde,” and noting that they now “looked like twins.”

For Venus, stepping into the world of blonde was a thrilling leap out of her comfort zone. “It was really fun to actually get out of my comfort zone and do something that I never thought I could do,” she said. “I think a lot of people go for colour, but then it doesn’t work for them.”

The campaign, which also features gymnast Aly Raisman and basketball player Megan Blunk alongside their star colourists, comes just in time for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Brendnetta Ashley, the mastermind behind Venus’ look, aimed to create something “new and fresh” for the athlete. “Honey blondes and warmer blondes are such a trend now, I felt like that was going to be the perfect colour for her,” Ashley explained.

Choosing the right blonde for Venus was all about harmony with her skin tone and eye colour. “It just melts into her,” Ashley said of the lighter shade. “When we saw her take the pictures, a whole new personality came to life, and that just sent me over the moon.”

Using wigs, Ashley crafted two campaign looks for Venus: a sleek blonde and a curly brunette style reminiscent of her iconic tennis court look. Venus loves experimenting with protective styles, saying, “I can have fun with lots of different colours without damaging my own hair, and it actually provides a lot of variety. I can keep my own hair healthy, the way that it wants to be, which is untouched, and then have fun with hair pieces without the damage.”

Venus certainly knows how to have fun with her hair. Last year, she rocked a pink hairdo that matched Serena’s. On July 11, when Serena flaunted her blonde transformation as host of the 2024 ESPYs, Venus took the stage alongside her sister with a long brunette look featuring subtle highlights.

Main Image: People Magazine