Zendaya

Background

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California. Both her mother, Claire Stoermer, and father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, are teachers. Zendaya was introduced to acting at the California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, California where her mother worked a summer job as the house manager. She attended the Oakland School for the Arts and was cast in several roles in plays hosted by local theaters. She also had an interest in dance and became a member of the Future Shock Oakland dance group and studied hula dancing at the Academy of Hawaiian Arts. Before becoming one of the most influential celebrities in Hollywood, she started out working as a child fashion model for companies such as Macy’s, Mervyn’s, and Old Navy.

Zendaya’s prominence in film and T.V. started with guest roles in Disney Channel shows such as “A.N.T. Farm” and “Good Luck Charlie.” In 2009, Zendaya got the part of Rocky Blue in the popular Disney Channel show “Shake It Up!” and she worked on the show for three seasons. Zendaya’s film debut was with Disney in the film “Frenemies” and she went on to star in other Disney productions such as “Zapped” and “K.C. Undercover” which she helped produce. In September 2012, Zendaya signed with Hollywood Records and released her self-titled debut album and first single in 2013. She competed in season 16 of “Dancing with the Stars” and, at the age of 16, became the youngest contestant ever to participate in the show at that time. She competed with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy and they finished as runners-up. After “Dancing with the Stars,” Zendaya made her Hollywood debut on the big screen in 2017 with film roles in Marvel’s “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and the original musical film “The Greatest Showman.”

Zendaya has received many awards for her roles in television and film, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Satellite Award, and a Saturn Award. In 2019, she began starring in HBO’s drama series “Euphoria” as a teenage drug addict. Her performance in the role has won her the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the youngest winner thus far. She also won the People’s Choice Award for Best Female Movie Star for her role in “Spider-Man: Far From Home.” She became the youngest person ever to win the Emmy for Best Lead Actress at the 72nd Emmy Awards in 2020. As a brand ambassador for Tommy Hilfiger and spokesmodel for Lancôme, Bulgari, and Valentino, Zendaya is a fashion icon. She won the 2020 Visionary Award at the CNMI Green Carpet Fashion Awards for promoting diversity and inclusion throughout her career in fashion and film. In 2021, Zendaya starred in the drama film “Malcolm & Marie,” as well as in Denis Villeneuve’s science fiction film “Dune,” while also voicing the character of Lola Bunny in “Space Jam: A New Legacy.”