ÉLETÚT: Zendaya

There are a few people who are famous enough to go by one name, think of Beyonce, Prince, Madonna – add to the list the young inspiration that is Zendaya, the successful American singer, dancer, actress, and champion for change in Hollywood. Star of HBO series Euphoria, movies including Spiderman, The Greatest Showman, and Dune – at only 26 she has carved out an impressive award-winning career. With style and charm, she is a leader on the red carpet with iconic looks and is an in-demand model. Her new tennis-based drama movie Challengers premieres at the Venice Film Festival in August.

Early life

Born on September 1^st, 1996, in Oakland California, the youngest of 6 children, Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman began her career as a child model. Her father Kazembe Ajamu Coleman is African-American and her mother Clare Stoermer has German and Scottish ancestry. Zendaya went to the elementary school where her mother taught and was in plays and dance groups. She went on to Oakland School for The Arts and was cast in theatre roles. The family moved to LA and she graduated from Oak Park High School.

Acting  

Zendaya was a childhood star, backing dancer in a commercial with Selena Gomez and a TV debut in the Disney sitcom Shake it Up as Rocky Blue – which established Zendaya’s place in the Disney universe in 2010 and was followed by two more seasons of the show. She had lead roles in Disney movies Frenemies and Zapped, and the Disney series K.C. Undercover.

Looking to broaden her range Zendaya appeared in her first non-Disney role in 2015 with the TV comedy Black-ish. Her major film debut was in 2017 as MJ in the blockbuster box office hit Spider-Man: Homecoming. The same year she had a role in the live-action musical The Greatest Showman and appeared on its soundtrack. In 2018, she voiced the yeti character Meechee in the animated film Smallfoot.

It was in 2019 that Zendaya began the HBO drama series Euphoria as Rue, a 17-year-old drug addict and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

In 2019, she starred as the recurring character MJ in Spider-Man: Far from Home – another commercial success. In 2021, came the film Malcolm & Marie, filmed during the COVID pandemic. She next voiced the character of Lola Bunny in Space Jam: A New Legacy and played Chani in the science fiction film Dune, the first of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 novel.

Zendaya became MJ for the third time in Spider-Man: No Way Home before 2022 brought the second season of Euphoria, and continued awards and acclaim for her performance, gaining four Emmy nominations, in 2023, she won the Golden Globe and received a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination.

Zendaya will next star in and produce Challengers, a sports drama and will return to her role as Chani in the sequel Dune: Part Two.

Dance and Music

Alongside her acting work, Zendaya is a successful singer and dancer, even competing in Dancing with The Stars. Her earlier singles include Swag It Out, Watch Me, and Something to Dance for. She signed to Hollywood Records in 2012 and a self-titled debut album was released in 2013.  She has gone on to work with musicians such as Timbaland, Labrinth and Chris Brown, and appeared in music videos for superstars such as Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Bruno Mars. At Coachella 2023, Zendaya joined Labrinth in a surprise performance. 

Fashion and Appearance

Zendaya’s interest in fashion and incredible style choices have led her to be named in many best-dressed fashion awards and she has her own clothing line. She has been the face of fashion houses such as Dolce and Gabbana, Bulgari, Valentino, and Louis Vuitton.  

In 2015, after a comment made about Zendaya’s dreadlocked hair (that it looked like it would ‘smell of patchouli oil or weed) at the Academy Awards, Zendaya took to Instagram to point out that many successful people have “locs,” a hairstyle nothing to do with drugs. Zendaya said it made her think about how she could have a lasting positive impact. In support, Mattel brought out a Barbie with Zendaya’s Oscars look to honour her as an inspirational woman.

Awards

Both of Zendaya’s Emmy wins were significant – at the time of her first award she was the youngest actor to win that category, later becoming the first black woman to win that Emmy twice and the youngest two-time Emmy winner.

Personal  

Zendaya is a supporter of several charities and uses her social platforms for supporting causes and addressing inequalities for women and young black people. She owns homes in LA and Brooklyn. Fiercely private, Zendaya and actor Tom Holland have now confirmed they are in a romantic relationship after meeting on the set of the Spiderman movie.

So, why does she go by only one name? The answer is simple, Zendaya reportedly said that she just thought it was cool, the sound of a one-word stage name – like Cher or Prince.  And we agree … Zendaya certainly is cool enough for one name.