Zendaya is an American actress, singer, and fashion icon who has established a reputation for creating timeless and influential trends that create a buzz in both fashion and entertainment circles alike. Born on September 1, 1996 in Oakland, California, she has become one of the most successful and prominent figures in the entertainment world. With her multifaceted talents and her rising fashion sense, she is a trend setter and a household name known for her style and significant influence in both media realms.
Early Life
Zendaya, whose real name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman was born to her mother, Claire Marie and father, Kazembe Coleman in Oakland, California. She was actually raised in the nearby city of San Francisco and first became involved in acting when she performed for the California Shakespeare Theater in her hometown at the age of 8. In addition to performance, Zendaya was a cheerleader in school and was also a part of her middle school’s choir group. She began modeling when she was 8 and then took lessons in film, dance, and even acrobatics.
Career
Before getting her leading roles in movies and TV shows, Zendaya started her career in the entertainment industry as a backup dancer for Selena Gomez in 2009. Her noteworthy television debut came when she landed the role of Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel original series Shake It Up. This opportunity opened the doors for other opportunities in television and cinema, making her one of the most recognized teen actresses in Hollywood.
Her first feature film was a musical remake of A Christmas Carol in 2009 entitled A Muppets Christmas Miracle. Following this, she starred in two other movies from 2014 to 2015, Disney’s Frenemies and Marvel’s epic Spiderman: Homecoming.
Zendaya went on to star in major television network shows such as the HBO film Euphoria and the series K.C. Undercover. Furthermore, she is currently set to star on the big screen with her part in the upcoming Dune remake as Chani and in Marvel’s Spiderman sequel Far From Home, further strengthening her role in the entertainment industry.
Fashion Icon
As her career and mainstream popularity blossomed so did her fashion sense, leading her to become the style icon she is today. Zendaya is known for her fashion-forward style and she is frequently spotted on fashion magazine covers and at red carpet events wearing some of the latest trends and hottest designers.
She is known to enjoy different looks and seems to always one-up her own style. Her fashion sense represents a combination of vintage and modern remains of style. She often wears vintage ensembles and puts her own twist to them with her personal accessories and beauty looks. Zendaya has also collaborated with fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger to create clothing items such as jeans, tops, and t-shirts for his 2020 pre-fall collection.
Her fashion sense is often seen on her Instagram page, where she makes sure to showcase her newest fashion statements that aim to inspire her fans to use fashion as an art form and express themselves.
Awards
With all of her amazing show-stopping performances, Zendaya is no stranger to awards. Starting from a young age, she has earned numerous awards, some of which include:
• 2013-F for Favorite Female TV Star for Shakeup It Up
• 2014-KCA for Favorite Female Television Actress
• 2015-NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Performance by a Youth
• 2017-Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Movie Star: Female
• 2018-E! People’s Choice Award for The Female TV Star Drama
• 2019-MTV Movie and TV Award for best Performance in a Show,
• 2020- Golden Globe Award Winner for best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series
Grammy Nominations
As a singer and dancer, Zendaya has shown her resourcefulness when it comes to being an all-rounded performer within the industry. Her talents were further presented when she was nominated for the 2020 Grammy Awards for best R&B Performance and Best Music Video for her single, “All of Us”.
Philanthropy
In 2014, Zendaya became a special ambassador for United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), raising awareness for the organization and its cause to provide health and education to those in need. She has extended her philanthropic work by founding her own charity, the “The Thriving Foundation”, an organization that assists in providing opportunities for low-income children in homelessness.
Zendaya is an extraordinary woman who is not only groundbreaking in the entertainment industry but also in the world of fashion. Her journey exemplifies what a person can do if they follow their passions, succeed and strive to make a difference in the world. Her philanthropy and runway style have made her a young role model for many aspiring talent worldwide, generously using her amazing talent and influence to inspire others to do the same.
