Maria Sharapova stood in front of the gilded mirror of her Paris hotel suite, smoothing the folds of the iridescent gown that shimmered between emerald and midnight blue. The fabric caught the soft glow of the chandelier, making her appear as though she were draped in liquid light.
She took a deep breath. Tonight was the launch of her newest venture — an eco-friendly fashion line named Aeternum. It wasn’t just another celebrity brand; each piece was crafted from innovative recycled fabrics, and she was determined to prove that sustainability could be glamorous.
Her assistant, Lila, peeked her head into the room. “Maria, your car’s waiting. Also… social media is blowing up. The press got a sneak peek of your dress.”
Maria blinked. “Already? I haven’t even stepped outside.”
“They’re calling it the ‘Aurora Dress.’ People can’t stop sharing photos from the teaser you posted this morning.”
Maria laughed softly. It was strange, how even after retiring from tennis, she could still feel the same adrenaline pulsing through her veins — as though she were about to serve match point on Centre Court.
She descended to the lobby, each step rustling like whispers of silk. Outside, flashes exploded as paparazzi angled for the perfect shot. Maria posed gracefully, lifting the hem of her gown to reveal a pair of sleek silver stilettos.
A reporter thrust a microphone forward. “Maria! Your dress is incredible. Is it true it’s made from ocean plastic?”
Maria nodded. “Yes. We’ve developed a technique to turn discarded fishing nets and plastic bottles into high-quality threads. Fashion shouldn’t cost the earth.”
Another voice called out. “Did you design it yourself?”
“I collaborated with a brilliant team,” she replied. “But the concept was mine — I wanted something that captured the idea of transformation.”
Inside the venue, the room glittered with Paris’ fashion elite. Crystals dangled from the ceiling, refracting rainbow light across the crowd. Maria mingled effortlessly, answering questions about sustainability, sport, and the possibility of a comeback — though she assured them her focus was firmly off the tennis court for now.
As the evening drew on, she slipped away to a balcony overlooking the Seine. Lila joined her, clutching her phone. “Look at this,” she said, showing Maria a flurry of posts. The hashtags #AuroraDress and #SharapovaGlow were trending worldwide.
Maria stared at the glowing screen. Photos of her on the red carpet rippled through timelines, each one shared thousands of times. For a moment, she felt a pang of the same rush she used to feel lifting trophies into the sky.
“Guess I’m still in the game,” she murmured.
“Always,” Lila said, grinning.
Maria turned back to the city lights. The world was changing — and so was she. The cheers of stadiums had become the flash of cameras, the roar of crowds replaced by the hum of social media. Yet one thing remained constant: whether on court or off, she was determined to leave a mark.
And tonight, wrapped in shimmering threads spun from the ocean’s depths, she had.