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Watch out world, Zendaya is not just a one-hit wonder. Her talent is here to stay and she’s clearly not done with her body of work.
She’s strutted the runway, graced the big screen (and small screen), released hit singles, oh, and written a book.
The minute you think you have her figured out, Zendaya shocks the world with a new superpower.
So to find out how she blossomed as a Disney sensation and became a fashion and Hollywood showstopper, check out our list of 40 fun Zendaya facts you probably didn’t know until now…
1. Zendaya Has Four Names
Zendaya, as we affectionately know her, has four names to her handle. The popular star’s full name is actually ‘Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman’.
2. She’s a Virgo
Born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, Zendaya is a fully-fledged Virgo. No wonder Beyonce loves her!
3. Zendaya Was Always Meant for the Stage
Anyone who came in contact with this prodigy, knew she was meant to be onstage. In her younger days, Zendaya would perform in school plays and she also joined a hip-hop dance group.
Zendaya was later encouraged by her mother, a former theater participant, to pursue acting. At the Oakland School for the Arts, she began performing in plays such as ‘Once on This Island’ and ‘Caroline, or Change.’
4. She Gained Fame on the Disney Channel
Zendaya’s road to stardom didn’t stop there. Her debut on the small screen was on the Disney Channel, where she starred in the hit sitcom, Shake It Up, as Rocky Blue.
Daya continued making a name for herself as a Disney star by also starring in K.C. Undercover, before taking on major roles in the MCU‘s Spider-Man movies, The Greatest Showman, Dune and Euphoria.
5. Zendaya is Also a Dancer
If you didn’t know already, Daya’s a certified triple threat in the industry.
Along with singing and acting, she’s also an accomplished dancer, having participated in various dance competitions and being trained in ballet, jazz, and hip-hop dance. Talk about range!
6. She Was Runner-Up in a Huge Show
In 2013, Zendaya partnered with professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy on the reality competition show, Dancing with the Stars.
She was one of the youngest stars (16 years-old) to ever participate and even finished as runner-up.
Impressing audiences with her grace, skill, and dedication, Zendaya has been dubbed as one of the best performers to ever grace the show.
If you missed her sashay with her dance partner, catch it below…
7. Zendaya Has an Album
Not only can this girl dance and act, she also has some vocals on her, too.
Zendaya’s incredible singing ability was unveiled when she released her self-titled debut studio album Zendaya in 2013, which showcased her powerful voice and R&B-influenced pop sound.
8. She’s Broken Emmy History
Zendaya is an accomplished actress, and has shown critics that she’s not just some cookie-cutter Disney star.
In 2020 and 2022, Zendaya became the youngest actress to win two Emmy Awards for ‘Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series’ for her captivating performance as Rue in Euphoria.
She further went on to win a Golden Globe for ‘Best Actress – Television Series Drama’ in 2023.
9. Zendaya and Selena Gomez Go Back
Zendaya and Selena Gomez go way back. Before she was a Disney star, Zendaya was in a Sears commercial with the Calm Down singer.
When J-14 asked Daya if she had seen Gomez since their commercial, she said,
“Actually, I haven’t. But when I worked with her on Sears, she was really sweet to me and really nice. And she was really helpful. So not yet. I haven’t seen her since I have been on an actual Disney Channel show. But hopefully, I will and hopefully, she’ll remember me.”
10. She’s an Activist
Zendaya is not all glitz and glam. She’s been candid about using her platform to address important social issues, become an active philanthropist, and get involved in various charitable endeavors.
From raising awareness about racial inequality and representation in the entertainment industry; supporting Hurricane Sandy response efforts, feminism, the Black Lives Matter movement, and Mean Stinks, Zendaya has empowered young people to speak up and be an advocate for change.
11. Zendaya is Cultured
Although she doesn’t talk much about her ethnicity, Zendaya is a woman of many flags. Her ancestry includes Jamaican, German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry, reflecting her diverse cultural background.
12. She’s a Fashion Icon
She’s known for acting, singing and dancing, all of which she does impeccably well. But we’ve also witnessed Daya’s creative evolution in the world of fashion.
Zendaya has become a fashion icon, known for her wow-factor style. She has frequently donned unique and trendsetting outfits on red carpets and has famously strutted her looks on the runway.
13. Zendaya’s a Fashion Ambassador
Her accolades don’t stop there, and neither does her creativity. In 2018, Daya collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger to become brand ambassador and produce a fashion line.
Proving that her brand stands for something greater than herself, ‘Tommy x Zendaya’ celebrated inclusivity by showcasing models of diverse sizes and backgrounds.
As an ‘it-girl’ in the fashion realm, Zendaya also went on to become an ambassador for Louis Vuitton in 2023.
14. Her Style and Hollywood Icons Are…
Here’s an interesting Zendaya fact!
The superstar told InStyle that her style icons are Cher and Diana Ross, while her favorite actors are Leonardo DiCaprio and Denzel Washington.
15. She Always Credits her Family
Zendaya remains humble and graceful, despite world fame and recognition. Thankfully, she’s still down-to-earth and has frequently credited her family, particularly her parents, for keeping her grounded and focused on what truly matters in life.
“I gotta give it up to my parents,” Zendaya told Ellen DeGeneres in 2016. “I’m really lucky to have the parents that I have. They just have always instilled in me those core values that I think I have to carry with me through everything. I give it up to them, I give it up to my family.”
16. She Expresses Herself Through Fashion
Through her strong will, creativity and collaborative friendship with Law Roach, Zendaya has defined her sophisticated sense of style.
In her Harper’s Bazaar interview, she discussed her passion for fashion and how she uses it as a way to express herself,
“I’ve always loved fashion and I’ve found that it’s an incredibly fun way to express myself…I definitely have a strong point of view on what I’m wearing…”
17. Zendaya’s Parents Are Teachers
Zendaya’s mom, Claire Stoermer, was a school teacher in underprivileged communities, while her father, Kazembe, worked in private schools in Oakland.
The actress told Us Weekly that she “always had to take school very seriously” growing up. In fact, “in 2nd grade [she] failed some spelling tests and got in a lot of trouble!”
18. She Encourages Education
Zendaya is passionate about education and has encouraged young people to prioritize their studies and pursue knowledge.
During her 2017 Teen Choice Awards acceptance speech, she said,
“With all the injustice and the hatred…I need all you young people…to be educated…to listen…to pay attention, and I need you to…understand that you have a voice and it is OK to use it when you see something bad happening.”
She continued, “So make sure that you stay educated…Because you are the leaders, you’re the future leaders of the world, you’re the future presidents, the future senators, and you guys are the ones who are gonna make this world better.”
19. Zendaya is Open About Therapy
As someone who’s been in it since she was young, Zendaya understands the stress and toll that comes with fame. She therefore uses her voice and platform to share the importance of mental health.
Encouraging her fans to prioritize their well-being and seek help if needed, Daya has openly spoken about going to therapy,
“Of course I go to therapy,” the Euphoria star told British Vogue. “I mean, if anybody is able to possess the financial means to go to therapy, I would recommend they do that. I think it’s a beautiful thing.”
20. She Promotes Self-Confidence
Zendaya uses her platform to advocate body positivity, self-acceptance and diversity in beauty standards.
Speaking to New You, she said, “If there’s any definition to being perfect, you’re perfect at being yourself. There is no such thing as ugly.”
Zendaya has been open about her own journey towards self-love, inspiring many to embrace their unique qualities, “I was made fun of but didn’t bother me very much because I was very comfortable in who I was,” the star shared.
“It’s important to find out who you are and love who you are.”
21. COVID Lockdowns Made Her Depressed
Like most of us during the horrid Coronavirus pandemic lockdowns in 2020, Zendaya explained that she felt depressed,
“[It was the] first kind of taste of sadness where you wake up and you just feel bad all day, like what the f**k is going on?” she said.
“What is this dark cloud that’s hovering over me and I don’t know how to get rid of it, you know?”
22. She’s Nothing Like Her ‘Euphoria’ Character
Zendaya explained to British Vogue that although her experiences of stress and sadness have helped her play the role of drug-addicted high school student, Rue, she’s “the most sober person you could ask to play this part. [So] I can only understand it to an extent.”
She also told Complex,
“Rue is obviously very different from me, but there’s something that feels like home,” Zendaya explained. “…I just felt like I was falling into her a lot…that feeling of when a character feels like they’re your sister or your best friend. I care about Rue as if she’s someone in my life. And I just want her to be OK.”
23. Zendaya Speaks Spanish
Zendaya is not just multicultural, she is also bilingual!
She speaks fluent Spanish, which she learned during middle school, showcasing her dedication and ability to adapt to different languages and cultures. Beauty, brains, and talent. What a gift.
24. She’s a Dog Mom
If you’re a puppy lover, you and Zendaya are practically best friends. She is the mom of a five year-old Miniature Schnauzer, who she spends a lot of time with outside work.
‘Noon Coleman’ even has his own Instagram account!
25. She is a Community Ambassador
This Zendaya fact will make you love her even more! The superstar became the youngest-ever UNICEF ambassador at the age of 18.
She used her platform to raise awareness about children’s rights and advocated for improved access to education and healthcare worldwide.
26. Zendaya Has a Weird Ice Cream Habit
Zendaya is a true daredevil. We’re sure you didn’t know this bizarre fact about the star – she eats ice cream with her teeth!
In a viral TikTok video, the multi-talented superstar shared that the reason she loves ice cream so much is because she doesn’t have sensitive teeth and is able to enjoy the desert by digging her fangs into it. LOL!
27. She Refused a Kissing Scene
Zendaya has been strong-willed since she was young. She shared with British Vogue that, while on Shake It Up, she refused to do a kissing scene as she’d not actually had her first real kiss yet,
“I remember being on Shake It Up and being like, ‘I’m not gonna do this. I’m going to kiss him on the cheek because I haven’t been kissed yet so I don’t want the kiss to be on camera.’”
28. She’s One of the Most Influential in the World
Welcome to the world of Zendaya! Her immense popularity and influence has earned her a spot on Time’s 2022 list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
29. Zendaya Wrote a Book
This fact about Zendaya may come as surprise to some – she’s an author, too! In 2013, she published a book titled, ‘Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence.’
Diving into Zendaya’s life beyond the red carpet, this book shares her message of how to pursue your dreams, have genuine friendships, and achieve a unique fashion sense.
30. She Stands Out by Being Authentic
Zendaya is known for her fierce individuality. In her Harper’s Bazaar interview, she let us in on her secret about standing out from the crowd.
Expressing the importance of knowing who you are and doing things that make you happy, she said,
“Be true to yourself. Knowing who you are and what you stand for is important, but don’t be afraid to evolve. Always try to focus on creating and doing things that genuinely make you happy, things that feel good in your gut and your heart, and you really can’t go wrong.”
31. Her Mom Inspired Her Self-Confidence
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Zendaya credited her mother, Claire, for her strong self-confidence.
“My beauty icons are the women in my life. My mom didn’t wear makeup; I don’t think she knew that, to me, it was empowering that she didn’t care,” she revealed.
32. Zendaya and Tom Holland Support Each Other
We all know fame can be a monster of a thing and the spotlight can make it difficult to maintain relationships. This is why Zendaya and Tom Holland are so perfect for each other.
In an interview with Graham Norton, Tom shared how the power couple provide support for one another,
“The biggest way is just companionship,” he said. “Two friends coming together, experiencing this world, going through the same problems at the same time, having a shoulder to cry on, has been a huge thing for the pair of us…”
Zendaya added that having someone “to just be there and listen” also makes a difference.
33. She Wanted to Hide Her Relationship
Like many celebrities, Zendaya and Tom Holland wanted to keep their relationship private. When a photo of the pair kissing was leaked to the world in 2021, Tom said they’d felt “robbed” of their privacy, because they “didn’t want to” go public in the first place.
“It was quite strange and weird and confusing and invasive,” Zendaya added. “I think loving someone is a sacred thing and a special thing and something that you want to deal with and go through and experience and enjoy amongst the two people that love each other.”
34. Zendaya Doesn’t Want to Be A Pop Star
Singing will always be a part of her, but Zendaya doesn’t think she “could ever be a pop star.”
In Variety‘s Actors on Actors issue, she revealed, “I don’t know if I could ever be a pop star. It’s because as an actor, there’s a level of anonymity that I get to have, which I really like.”
“And I get to sort my stuff, whatever that is, through a character, and nobody needs to know about it,” she added. “Whereas in other forms and other mediums, it’s all you all the time. I like the idea that somebody else, meaning Rue, gets to take on that stuff.”
35. She Wants to Make Change Through Social Media
In an interview with InStyle, Zen shared that she tries her “best to use [her] platform not just for posting selfies and stuff…but also for things [she’s] passionate about, or just to start conversations and dialogue… and possibly get some change from it.”
36. Zendaya’s Dad is Her Manager
Here’s a fun Zendaya fact! Her father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, is her manager! Now, that’s what you call lucky!
With Zendaya’s level of talent, nothing is off limits. She’s not your typical celebrity, but a true role model who has stayed true to herself throughout her career.
If you weren’t a fan already, we think these Zendaya facts will win you over sooner or later!
Let us know which piece of trivia made you love Zendaya even more in the comment section below…
There are sections in this article that were written by Angela Stephanou.
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