Serena Williams walks NYFW runway with two-year-old daughter Alexis

Kim Kardashian West watches on from front row as tennis champion presents new collection

(AP)

Serena Williams has won praise for walking the runway at New York Fashion Week with her two-year-old daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.

Following a showing of the tennis champion’s eponymous womenswear collection, Serena, Williams appeared on the catwalk with her infant in her arms and waved to the crowd.

For the appearance, Williams wore a python print skirt and black lace shirt, which she teamed with a pair of black high top trainers.

The athlete’s ensemble was paralleled by that of her daughter’s, who wore a black T-shirt and a grey skirt.

Several members of Williams’ A-list inner circle turned up for the runway show and were photographed sitting together on the front row.

Kim Kardashian West, for example, watched on wearing a slinky silver sleeveless top with black jeans while actor La La Anthony sat alongside her in a sleek all-black ensemble.

As for Williams’ new collection, which is available to shop for the next 48 hours, a neutral palette of creams, chesnuts and khakis occupied most of the basic wardrobe items, while splashes of cheetah print and neon green added a playfulness to the odd cowl neck dress and coat.

The collection was designed to celebrate “women who turn fear into courage and doubt into confidence”, reads a statement on Williams’ website.

La La Anthony and Kim Kardashian West sat together to see Williams' new collection (AP)

Speaking to Glamour backstage at the show, the designer explained it’s “really important” for her clothing to be “all-inclusive”.

“I really love the word inclusivity and not exclusivity — I think that’s just better,” she said.

“I think it’s so important for everyone to feel like they can see an outfit and think, ‘Oh, that looks like me and I feel good in it.’ It doesn’t matter what color they are.”