Zendaya comes from Oakland, California, where her parents worked as educators while she was interested in working in the arts field. After working for various stage productions in the early years and modeling for television commercials, she found her calling through a Disney teen sitcom, Shake It Up, which changed her life for good. Zendaya’s career has transformed drastically over the last few years and has deeply influenced the young generation.
Choosing exciting projects like the Spider-Man series and drama shows like Euphoria, she won many accolades, including a Primetime Emmy For Best Actress, the youngest actress to achieve the feat. While she maintains privacy about her personal life, social media lets fans see her dating life. Let’s take a look at some of the lesser-known facts about Zendaya.
9 Her Name Has A Deep Meaning
Zendaya has a unique name that not many people had heard before she came to prominence in Hollywood. Her full name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, a rooted connection to her African and German heritage. Her first name Zendaya took inspiration from the Shona language and translated it as To Give Thanks but added the Z because her father preferred it.
8 Her Style Icons Are Her Father And Madonna
Zendaya has become one of the biggest fashion icons for the young generation today and even received the honor of being the youngest recipient of the 2021 CFDA Fashion Icon Award. While the actress has an extensive team working alongside her today, her early inspiration was fashion was her father and singer Madonna, who is known for her bold yet loud outfits.
7 She Was Only 14 When She Got Her First Role
While the audition process for Disney’s Shake It Up lasted two years, it wasn’t until Zendaya turned fourteen that she made her big debut with the show alongside Bella Thorne. After the show’s premiere, she became a household name and even released music at sixteen. She was one of the youngest contestants in Dancing With The Stars, the US Version.
6 She Has Starred In Several Music Videos
Not many stars have had the honor of starring in music videos for top musicians worldwide, but Zendaya has achieved the feat thrice with some of the best-selling artists of all time. Zendaya joined Taylor Swift for the music video of Bad Blood. She was a part of Beyonce's visual album Lemonade in All Night, and the actress was also in a custom Versace outfit for Bruno Mars Versace On The Floor.
5 She Wanted To Be A Teacher, If Not An Actor
Zendaya’s parents have had a significant influence on her, and as educators, she has believed that she would have followed in their footsteps and become a teacher, if not an actor. She has always passionately shared her views about teachers being influential figures in society despite the low pay they receive compared to their dedication to the field of education.
4 She Was Bullied As A Child And Now Stands Up For People Who Are
While Zendaya’s parents encouraged the actress to love herself and be comfortable with who she was, the actress was bullied in school as a child. She was only ten years old when she stood up to the person who was bullying her friend and now is the ambassador of UNAIDS, helping people everywhere. This has helped her ignore the naysayers and haters on the internet to stay true to herself.
3 She Worked As A Backup Dancer For Selena Gomez’s Commercial
Everyone has to get a start somewhere, and Zendaya, a talented dancer, got her start with a Sears Commercial starring Selena Gomez. She wasn’t the lead dancer but starred in the background during a montage of the Back To School campaign of the department store. Zendaya has become the face of many notable brands, including Smartwater, Valentino, and Tommy Hilfiger.
2 She Changed The Disney Teen Show Perspective With Her Show
After her role in Shake It Up, which shot her to stardom, Zendaya was offered a lead role in another television series produced by Disney, K.C Undercover, in 2015. While the initial title of the show was Super Awesome Katy which seemed off-putting as her character was strong and mysterious, so Zendaya demanded the name change. Additionally, she stood up to the Executives to ensure that a family of color was included in the show.
1 Her Fashion Stylist Is Law Roach
Zendaya’s fashion speaks volumes with every appearance on the red carpet, and she has developed a rapport with her fashion stylist Law Roach for over a decade now. Roach and Zendaya have a secondary love for fashion that connects them and takes inspiration from normal people they see at the airports or walking down the streets of LA or New York.
Alongside the above facts, Zendaya has also stated that she went on her first date to watch a Spider-Man movie and eventually ended up being a part of the franchise. Zendaya has a long career ahead of her, and through her brilliant roles and fashion choices, the actress has established herself as one of Gen-Z's most influential figures.
