Anyway, you’re not a true Zendaya fan until you know her bio down to the tiniest detail. So, here are some interesting, surprising, and fun facts that should help you with that.
Zendaya, Like Madonna?
In an iconic music diva-type move, Zendaya's public image is led by her first name alone. However, the booming singer's real name is a tiny bit longer than that!
Many don't know that in her birth certificate, she goes by no other than Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman. Now, try saying that fast three times in a row, we dare you.
Giving Thanks
Anyone who comes across the name Zendaya for the first time tends to feel slightly puzzled about its origin and meaning. Well, it turns out that the name Zendaya actually comes from the Shona name Tendai, which means "to give thanks."
By the way, in case you're like "Shona what, now?" – Shona is one of the languages spoken in Zimbabwe. You're welcome!
Shake That Thang
We all know Zendaya can sing and act, but did you know she could dance, too? It turns out that her passion for dancing started way before she took part in "Dancing With the Stars".
Zendaya became a member of a hip-hop dance group when she was only eight years old and danced with the group for three whole years! And other than her wasted career as a hip-hop dancer, she's also a wasted hula dancer: Zendaya danced the hula with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts for two years.
Acting First
Many people became familiar with Zendaya as a singer; but way before the beginning of her music career, her first love was undoubtedly acting. Zendaya started acting at the age of six! I mean, some people can barely say two complete sentences when they're that young.
Zendaya's acting debut was at a school play for Black History month, and we're pretty sure she nailed it. And the rest is, well, history (no pun intended).
Young and Promising
Zendaya has won quite a few awards throughout her career and was nominated for numerous others. Among her wins and nominations, you can find the Satellite Award, the Saturn Award, the Critics' Choice Movie and Television awards, and many others.
But one of Zendaya's most impressive moments was her win of a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She won that award in 2020 for her acting in the HBO series "Euphoria". Euphoric, indeed.
Disney Darling
Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and Ryan Gosling – what do those people have in common? Well, other than being rich and famous (hey, we're not jealous), they all had their breakthrough on the Disney Channel.
Zendaya is also a part of that luxurious club, having had her major acting breakthrough while playing Rocky Blue on the series "Shake it Up".
Multi-Platinum
Not everyone gets to say one of their singles went multi-platinum all over the world, but Zendaya definitely can, thanks to her duet with Zac Efron as part of the soundtrack of the film "The Greatest Showman" (where the two also starred).
The song, titled "Rewrite the Stars," became a huge hit, and it was actually what upgraded Zendaya's status from a relatively well-known singer to a real household name. And aren’t we all thankful for that!
Breaking Records
And just to clarify, we're not referring to music records. When Zendaya participated in season 16 of "Dancing with the Stars", back in 2013, she became the youngest participant on the show at the time! The record has since been broken.
We think participating in such a huge show at the age of 16 is still pretty damn impressive, not to mention the fact that she won second place (along with her dancing partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy).
A Hands-on Actress
Back in 2014, Zendaya was cast to act the lead role in the Disney series "K.C. Undercover", but just being the lead actress of the show wasn't enough for her – she wanted to have an impact on her character, too.
Rumor has it that Zendaya had a significant amount of influence both on her character's name and her personality traits. Girl boss!
A Mix of Ethnicities
Born and raised in the United States, Zendaya might be 100% American, but she comes from a rather diverse ethnic background. Her father Kazembe is black, and her mother Claire is of German and Scottish descent.
Now we know to whom the singer-actress owes her unique beauty. With such a special set of genes, the outcome was bound to be outstanding.
Judge Zendaya
Zendaya has plenty of different titles, and in 2014, "Judge" became one of them! Well, okay, not an actual court judge; but one no less important. Zendaya took part as a guest judge in one of the episodes of the reality competition "Project Runway: Under the Gunn", where the contestants had to design an outfit for one of her concerts.
In 2016, Zendaya reinforced her judging capabilities when she was a guest judge once more, this time in the season's finale of the original Project Runway's 15th season. We plead guilty to loving it!
Her Very Own Barbie
At some point in their childhood, most girls have probably dreamt of looking like a Barbie – but what about having a Barbie doll designed after them? Well, Zendaya has that second one come true for her, however, the circumstances could have been more pleasant.
Mattel launched a Zendaya-based Barbie after a nasty joke Giuliana Rancic had made about Zendaya's dreadlocks. We're definitely not going to repeat that remark, but we're happy with the outcome.
#Adulting
Having started her career as a child actress, Zendaya was one of those stars who grew up in the limelight. And even though we really liked her Disney characters, we absolutely LOVED her more mature characters. Zendaya's film debut, which pretty much marked her transition to grownup acting gigs, was in "Spider-Man: Homecoming", where she played the iconic MJ.
This part was soon followed by her roles in the movie "The Greatest Showman" and in the controversial HBO teen drama "Euphoria". The conclusion: just like wine, Zendaya gets better with age.
A Voice Actress, Too
Zendaya's voice precedes her, and not only in music – in voiceover, too. The singer-actress has dabbled with voice acting more than once, in films like Warner Bros' "Smallfoot" where she voiced the yeti Meechee; and in the 2021 film "Space Jam: A New Legacy", where she lent her voice to the beloved character of Lola Bunny.
Singing, voicing, we don't care – Zendaya's voice is lovely in any configuration.
Once, Twice, Three Times a Spider-Girl
Zendaya has acted as MJ not in one, not in two, but in three whole Spider-Man movies! Her first time was in 2017 in "Spider-Man: Homecoming," and she then returned for the two following installments of the film series: "Spider-Man: Far from Home"; and "Spider-Man: No Way Home".
Zendaya got great reviews from various critics on her portrayal of MJ in all three films, and we couldn't agree more.
Fashionista
Acting and singing aside – the girl's got style, and she keeps on proving it to the world. She has been chosen to be the spokesperson for various brands like Material Girl, CoverGirl, Bulgari, Valentino, and many others.
In addition to that, Zendaya has launched her very own shoes and clothing lines and was actually chosen by the website Net-a-Porter as one of the best-dressed women in 2018. What can we say? She's a woman of many talents!
An Aspiring Author?
You may not know that among her other numerous endeavors, Zendaya has actually published her very own book. The book, released in August 2013, is titled "Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence." A long but informative name!
Zendaya said that the purpose of her book was to help girls face the challenges of their tween years in a better way. What a noble goal!
An Inclusive Attitude
One of the coolest things about Zendaya is her inclusive attitude about pretty much everything and everyone. She makes sure to design gender-fluid clothes that celebrate all body types. Her runway shows at both Paris and New York Fashion Weeks featured models of all ages, colors, and sizes, which was positively noted by critics.
Zendaya also won the Visionary Award at the CNMI Green Carpet Fashion Awards 2020, praising her efforts to promote inclusion and diversity.
A Philanthropist
Zendaya has a huge heart, and it shows in the extensive philanthropic work she has done throughout the years. Among other things, she was an ambassador and spokesperson for charities like UNICEF, Convoy of Hope; visited South Africa HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment program UNAIDS.
She celebrated two of her birthdays with fundraising campaigns and shared some of the proceeds from her movie "Malcolm & Marie" with the Feeding America nonprofit organization.
A Proud Feminist
Zendaya is without a doubt a feminist. Other than publicly sharing her experience of being a black female in Hollywood, she also expresses her opinions on the subject (and other important social issues) on social media.
In 2017, she took part in the Women's March on Washington, a major protest meant to rise up against ex-US President Donald Trump's anti-feminist statements. We're right there with you, sis.
A Social Activist
Other than being a talented musician and actress, Zendaya is also quite a social activist! She often uses her social media accounts to raise awareness of important social issues like bullying, discrimination, and body shaming.
Zendaya is also an avid supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement and participated in a social media protest over the issue. We love a celebrity with a strong sense of justice.
A Model Citizen
One of the things Zendaya seems to be the most passionate about is… voting. Yep, you are reading correctly! This star cares for her country, and we think that's awesome. Other than regularly expressing her pro-voting opinions on social media, she also took part in the "Vote Your Future" initiative in 2016.
She joined Michelle Obama in asking her fans to register to vote in 2020 and even posted a video of herself voting to encourage others to vote as well! What a model citizen you are, Zendaya.
A Vegetarian
When it comes to nutritional preferences, Zendaya is an outspoken vegetarian. But don't be confused: this doesn't mean she's a fan of vegetables, like, at all. Zendaya explained that her choice of a vegetarian diet comes from ideological motives only.
She simply loves animals and hates the idea of hurting them for her own personal enjoyment. We think that's truly admirable.
Relationship With Jacob Elordi
One of Zendaya's romantic relationships was with (the stunningly handsome) Jacob Elordi. The two met while acting together on HBO's "Euphoria", and people started speculating about a potential romance between them when they were seen together on vacation in 2019.
They tried pulling the friendship card, but when a picture of them kissing in NYC popped up in February 2020, it was obvious that they weren't platonic. However, the romance only lasted a couple of months, and the two parted ways.
Zendaya and Trevor Jackson?
Were they, or were they not? In the past, there were some rumors about a potential romantic relationship between Zendaya and actor Trevor Jackson, but the two totally denied it.
They both claimed to just be BFFs, nothing more; and Trevor even said they thought the rumors were really funny. We think they could have made a cool couple, but, oh well.
Zendaya and Odell Beckham?
Back in 2016, people were whispering about Zendaya being romantically involved with football player Odell Beckham. The speculations started after the two were seen leaving an event together.
The one to deny this rumor was actually not even Zendaya herself, but her super sweet dad who answered for her, saying that the hangout with Beckham was purely professional. We believe you, Kazembe.
Zendaya and Tom Holland?
Major romance alert: it's hard for us not to get all cheesy when it comes to Zendaya's relationship with Tom Holland. The two became close while acting together in the Spider-Man movies, and at least for a while, they were truly platonic. But ultimately, Zendaya and Tom could no longer deny their feelings for each other, and the rumors about them were confirmed when they were photographed kissing in a car in 2021.
Zendaya didn't like this forced outing, to say the least; but, all well that ends well: soon after, they started posting pics of one another on Insta.
A Private Person
When it comes to her personal life, and especially with everything that has to do with the romantic aspect of it, Zendaya likes to keep things on the down-low. We've seen the same pattern with literally all of her major relationships.
It always starts with denial, continues with some more denial, and ends with some insensitive paparazzi calling her bluff. We'd love to know everything about her, honestly; but we totally respect her will to keep private matters private.
A Creative Soul
Zendaya is that type of star who isn't just pretty or talented at her job – she's also an artsy type when it comes to her pastime hobbies. Apparently, other than acting, singing, and dancing, Zendaya is also fond of drawing and – wait for it – writing poetry!
Who wouldn't pay good money to have a look at one of those poems or drawings? They're probably amazing like everything this girl does.
She Loves Her Fans
Signing your social media posts with heart emojis and XOXOs is easy – but showing real-life, in-the-flesh love to fans is something that not many celebrities are famous for. Then again, we know Zendaya is not like every other celebrity, don't we?
The girl actually got off stage in the middle of an interview just to hug someone sitting in the audience! If that's not being devoted to your fans, we don't know what is.
A Mishap She'd Rather Forget
We all have some super embarrassing moments that we'd rather forget ever happened, and famous people are no different when it comes to that. As far as Zendaya goes, one of those uncomfortable moments happened when she rode a roller coaster at the age of eight and… wet herself in the process.
We think it if anything, this only helps us remember she's human and makes her even cuter. After all, she was only eight!
An Athletic Girl
This one might surprise you: even though she's quite slim and gentle-looking, Zendaya comes from a pretty athletic background! Before she even discovered her love of acting, she was part of the basketball team and the athletic team at her school.
Who knows? Maybe in a different life, she would have been the female Michael Jordan. Guess we'll never know, and for now, we will have to make do with her playing sports on the widescreen only.
She Didn't Come from a Wealthy Background
When we look at someone as rich and successful as Zendaya, it's easy to believe that things came easily for her or that she was born this way. The truth is everything but that: Zendaya shared that she didn't grow up in a wealthy household, saying that her background is what helps her be so appreciative of her current financial state.
Nevertheless, she made sure to stress that as a child, she was always happy with what she had.
She Looks Up to Her Dad
Zendaya seems to be close with her dad, but get this – according to her, she also sees him as one of her style gurus! Zendaya said in one of her interviews that she admires people who just do their thing and focus on being themselves, rather than trying to impress others.
According to the star, her list of fashion role models includes Erykah Badu, Madonna, and Dad. We love it!
She's an Introvert
This sounds a bit counterintuitive when talking about a world-renowned singer, actress, and model – but Zendaya is actually a pretty shy person. Maybe less so today, but as a child, her mom actually took classes for parents with introverted kids.
We're pretty sure that nowadays Zendaya is a tiny bit less shy than she was back then, but she probably still has that quality somewhere within. Once an introvert – always an introvert.
She Did Kindergarten More Than Once
Random but interesting fact: Zendaya actually had to repeat kindergarten twice! And no, it's definitely not because she wasn't smart enough; it had to do with her excessive timidness, leading to her being somewhat behind on the social level compared to the other children.
It's all good – after twice completing kindergarten, Zendaya finally made it to the first grade, and she's managed to close the gap rather impressively since then.
She Owes Her Acting Career to Her Mom
Well, at least to a certain extent. Some of her earliest stage-acting experience was due to the fact that her mom used to work as the House Manager at the California Shakespeare Theater.
Zendaya helped her mom do everything from selling tickets to showing people their seats, and the plays at the theater helped spark her passion for acting. That's such a sweet story!
She Suffered From Bullying
It's really hard to imagine someone wanting to harm such a sweet soul like Zendaya, but back at school, some kids did. The star had to deal with quite a lot of bullying back when she was younger and saw others being bullied around her as well.
Today, as an adult with a ton of influence on others, she makes sure to oppose bullying in any way she possibly can. That's so important.
Shakespeare Girl
What better playwright to have in your acting portfolio than the great William Shakespeare? Zendaya has always had good taste in acting gigs, even when she was young! She took part in quite a few Shakespeare plays, such as "Richard III", "Twelfth Night", "Celia", and "As you Like It".
She may not have been the lead actress in all of those, but that's still a pretty decent start.
A True Virgo
Zendaya was born on September 1st, which means she is a Virgo; and honestly, she's the epitome of how people of this sign are often characterized! Humble, hardworking, and kind; full of energy, creative, and intellectually and emotionally intelligent; and take their art very seriously.
Oh, and they're also keen on helping others. Yep, there's no doubt she's a classic Virgo.
Dancing With the Stars
And no, we're not referring to the famous show that Zendaya participated in! Way before she was ridiculously famous, Zendaya took part in a Sears commercial as no other than… Selena Gomez's backup dancer! Hey, we all gotta start somewhere, don't we?
In the commercial, you can see her performing some seriously impressive dance moves, including a few formidable breakdance elements.
Secret Talents
Zendaya is a huge ice cream lover, and she has a particularly strange talent that has to do with it. In one of Vanity Fairs' "Secret Talent Theatre" videos, Zendaya is seen flaunting her ability to eat ice cream with her front teeth!
While most people's front teeth can't bear the cold, hers simply don't feel it. Just thinking about it gives us chills.
A Harry Potter Fan
Who doesn't love Harry Potter, right? Well, apparently, Zendaya takes this perfectly reasonable love to a whole new level. According to the information she shared with InStyle, the girl actually watches a Harry Potter movie once a day.
Zendaya explained her unique pastime, saying that it's just her special way to relax and unwind. We think that's absolutely enchanting. (Get it? Enchanting?)
Hunter Schafer's Special Gift
It turns out that "Euphoria" costar and close friend, actress Hunter Schafer, got Zendaya a gift that had a meaningful impact on her day-to-day. Zendaya shared with GQ that Schafer actually got her a sketchbook, which really got her into painting on a regular basis.
How cool is that? According to the star, it's her way of letting go of her need for control and being less judgmental. Sounds amazing!
Skin Care First
Zendaya told Vogue that she takes extremely good care of her skin. Well, just look at her pictures and videos, we kind of already had an idea – but it's still cool to get official confirmation.
The singer-actress said that she doesn't go a day without applying sunscreen, and always makes sure to remove her makeup before she goes to sleep. Now, that's what we call self-care.
She Does Her Own Makeup
Well, maybe not at all times – we're guessing that this doesn't include commercials or TV shows – but we know for sure that she's the one to do her makeup before big events.
This is impressive for two reasons. First, it's not very common for a star in her status to do her own makeup; and second, it always looks so professional – wow! Kudus from us, Zendaya.
She Has a Celebrity Crush
Actually, it's one that she shares with most girls: Channing Tatum. Whenever Zendaya is asked about her celebrity crushes, it seems that Channing's name mysteriously (or not) always comes up.
We can only guess how excited she was when the two of them collaborated briefly, lending their voices to the characters of Meechee and Migo in the movie "Smallfoot". We couldn't be more jealous.
Educational Roots
This may come as a surprise to many, but the blood flowing in Zendaya's veins is not the one of a Hollywood star, but rather, one of a teacher. Yep – both of Zendaya's parents are teachers!
In an interview with Teen Vogue, she even said that if she wasn't a performer, she would have definitely become a teacher. With such a glowing charisma, we actually don't find that too hard to imagine.
With a Little Help from My Parents
Zendaya couldn't have made it this far if she didn't have the most supportive set of parents a little girl with big dreams can wish for. It turns out that during her middle school years, the two of them sacrificed a lot to support her career.
While her mother worked in two different jobs, her father had to quit his for the family to move with Zendaya to LA. That's some moving stuff!
Black Media Representation Is Important to Her
With her background and beliefs, Zendaya does whatever she can to make sure that all shades of colors are represented on TV. That's why when she was cast to star in Disney's "K.C. Undercover", she made it very clear to them that they'd have to get black cast members as her family on the series.
In an interview with Glamour, she spoke about the importance of having more people of color represented in the media. We couldn't agree more.
A Little Controversy Doesn't Scare Her
When Zendaya acted alongside actor John David Washington in the movie "Malcolm & Marie", many people raised an eyebrow due to the major age differences between the two. But Zendaya wasn't too shaken up by the comments!
In an interview with E! News, she said she was aware of the fact that having started young, many people still perceive her as a child; which might make it hard for them to watch her being intimate on-screen with someone significantly older. However, she said, she's all grown up now. That's just how it goes.
A Huge Oprah Fan
Interviewing for Glamour magazine, Zendaya revealed that her biggest role model is legendary talk show host and media personality, Oprah Winfrey. Zendaya gushed about Oprah, expressing admiration towards her incredible success against all odds and her ability to achieve pretty much everything she dreams of.
She also mentioned how much she loves Oprah for being down to earth. We second that.
Multiple Nicknames
Zendaya is so sweet and lovable, it only makes sense for her loved ones to have more than one nickname for her! While her parents sometimes call her "Maree" (her middle name), a lot of her friends refer to her as "Daya."
Occasionally her friends also call her Big Head, which sounds borderline-offensive, but we know she has a good enough sense of humor not to be offended.
A Late Bloomer
Dating life is so hard and Zendaya might be lucky to have started late in life. Well, late-ish: the star's parents had a strict no-dating policy for her until she turned 16.
Many teenagers would have probably been disappointed and frustrated with this policy, but according to Zendaya, it didn't bother her one bit. That's a real sign of maturity, don't you think?
Cosmetic Pet Peeve
We all have our strange pet peeves, from loud chewing sounds to the smell of garlic. But Zendaya has an extra special pet peeve, and it actually comes to cosmetics: she absolutely can't handle a chipped-nail polish crisis.
Well, good thing there are plenty of talented manicurists where she lives – so, problem solved! She can sport perfect nails for all eternity.
Scandalous!
One of Zendaya's favorite fictional TV personas is Olivia Pope from the series "Scandal". The hot, complex 'fixer,' written by Shonda Rhimes and played by Kerry Washington, is one of the things that inspired Zendaya to become interested in politics.
We can't disagree: one look at Washington doing her thing on the show, and we find ourselves willing to run for office, too.
A Big Family
Zendaya comes from a pretty large family! She is the youngest child to her parents; and she has no less than five older siblings: two brothers – Julien and Austin; and three sisters – Annabella, Kaylee, and Katianna.
This might help explain why Zendaya is such a team player and why everyone who gets to work with her admires her people skills. Anyway, we think large families are the absolute best.
Zendaya and The Rock's Daughter
Zendaya and actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson are not related, but after a tweet The Rock posted with a picture of his daughter, many people seriously thought they were!
Honestly, when you take one look at his daughter, it's hard to blame them; since she literally looks like a baby Zendaya. Even The Rock himself replied to a retweet and expressed his agreement!
A Tall Woman
It's not always possible to tell from movies and pictures how tall someone is, especially in a world full of high heels and misleading camera angles. But when it comes to Zendaya, if you had a feeling she was tall – you got it perfectly right!
The girl is 5'10, tall! For those of you using the metric system, that's 1.78 cm. Very impressive.
Independent Woman
Zendaya may have not come from a wealthy home, but today, she very much embodies the lyrics of the 00s Destiny's Child hit song Independent Women. With an estimated net worth of $15 million, we can actually picture her singing "The watch I'm wearing, I bought it/ the car I'm driving, I bought it/ the house I live in, I bought it/ I depend on me."
How about a cover version, Zendaya? Just don't forget who came up with the idea first!
She Takes Responsibility for Her Content
Even now when she's a full-on adult, Zendaya knows she still has many young – some extremely young – fans who follow her work. That's why she made sure to post a clarification on Twitter, explaining that the successful series "Euphoria" which she stars in deals with a lot of difficult and complex content.
Zendaya asked her fans to only watch the show if they truly feel comfortable and pay attention to the way it makes them feel. We're proud of you, Zendaya.
Her Dog Has Its Own Instagram Account
There's no blue checkmark to make it officially his, but Zendaya's dog has an entire Insta account dedicated to just him, and it has over 22K followers! The account's social media handle is @nooncoleman.
The bio of the account reads "I am Zendaya's beloved son," and the pics and videos seem to confirm this statement. Other than him looking super cute, we just wish someone would love us as much as Zendaya loves her dog.
She Likes It When Fans Correct Her Spelling
In an interview she gave to InStyle magazine, Zendaya talked about the special connection she shares with her fans. Apparently, one of the special aspects of this connection has to do with typos!
Zendaya confessed that her fans occasionally call her out for spelling mistakes on her social media posts, and said she thought it was cool. We think you're cool, too, Zendaya!
A Michael Jackson Fan
One of Zendaya's very favorite singers was the deceased Michael Jackson. Other than just loving his music – as regular fans do – Zendaya also used her special gift to do a cover version of one of his songs, "Leave it Alone" when she auditioned for "Shake It Up".
We'd really like to have been in the room to listen to her do it!
Zendaya and Alexandra Shipp: Role Sisters
It turns out that actress Alexandra Shipp took Zendaya's place twice in film roles that were initially meant for the latter. The first time was when Alexandra replaced Zendaya as the lead actress of "Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B"; and the second time was when Zendaya passed on the role of the mutant in "X-Men: Apocalypse."
Who knows? Maybe one day we'll get to see the two of them play sisters!
She Almost Starred in Alita: Battle Angel
Rumor has it that Zendaya was heavily considered and nearly cast for the role of Alita in the action film "Alita: Battle Angel". However, the opportunity fell through and actress Rosa Salazar eventually got it instead. But it's all good!
We're 100% sure that if Zendaya decides she wants to star in a major action movie in the future, she'll be able to make that dream come true.
The Cool Young Aunt
Coming from a family of six brothers and sisters (including herself), Zendaya was bound to become an aunt at some point! But get this: Zendaya didn't even have to wait to become an aunt, since she was already an aunt at the time of her birth.
How? Her brothers and sisters are simply much older than she is. Anyway, we're positive she stepped naturally into the role of the cool aunt and poses an amazing role model to her nieces and nephews! How can she not?
A Messy Girl
You may not believe this, looking at her always-polished appearance, but Zendaya has confessed to being a rather untidy person. How untidy? Well, her bedroom environment was said to be almost too messy to bear.
We're fine with her being messy, but we only have one question: being that rich, can't she just pay someone to clean it? If she's having a hard time finding one, we'd be happy to do it!
Between LA and NYC
Los Angeles and New York City are the two main hubs of the entertainment industry in the United States (and in the whole world). That might be why Zendaya made sure to have a place to live in both.
She owns an apartment in Brooklyn, NYC, and a $1.4 million home in Los Angeles. Sounds like a true real-estate expert!
She's Familiar With Bad Breakups
We know for sure that Zendaya had at least one tough breakup since she has referred to it more than once, even though she didn't mention the name of the guy. This really goes to show that being rich, famous, beautiful, and successful doesn't make you immune to getting heartbroken.
Thanks for reminding us of that, Zendaya. Plus, we really don't know who in the world would choose to break up with you, but that's a whole other story.
Why She Really Passed on Playing Aaliyah
We know Zendaya was a major candidate to play the role of deceased R&B singer Aaliyah in the 2014 movie about her life. But why would she pass up such a great opportunity? Well, it turns out that one of the main reasons had to do with a moral issue.
Since Aaliyah's family did not support the film, Zendaya felt uncomfortable taking part in it. Zendaya even tried contacting the family to get their approval but to no avail. A fine moral compass is one of our favorite qualities in a star.
Remember the Name
Zendaya has such a special name, it was only a matter of time until young parents started to pick this up and give it to their newborn daughters. And indeed, the number of new babies being named "Zendaya" is increasing exponentially with each passing year!
That's so cool. Who thought of naming their baby girl Zendaya before she became famous?
The Best Kisser
After starring with Zendaya in the musical film "The Greatest Showman", Zac Efron said that their on-screen kiss was his best one ever! Now, we're not entirely sure if he meant "the best on-screen kiss" or "the best kiss" period.
To be honest, any one of the two is a huge compliment! Not that we're surprised that Zendaya's a talented kisser, just sayin'.
She Shares a Trait with One of Her Characters
Being such an avid animal lover, Zendaya is a well-known vegetarian. But did you know that one of her past characters was, too? The character of Rocky, played by her on the Disney Channel series "Shake It Up", is a vegetarian too!
We're not sure if Zendaya had anything to do with that script choice, but anyway, it's really cool.
An Original Californian
A lot of, if not most famous actors only found themselves migrating to the state of California when they first started auditioning for roles in Los Angeles. However, that is hardly the case with Zendaya!
The singer-actress was actually born and raised in Oakland, California, and has stayed a loyal citizen to her native state ever since. We like it!
How Does She Know She's in Trouble?
We all know just when we get our parents mad, and Zendaya is no different. She shared in a video she did for Glamour that there's a very clear way of telling when she's in trouble with her folks.
When they start calling her by her middle name, Maree, she knows it's trouble time. Well, we're sure that doesn't happen that often, does it?
No Syrup for Her
We wouldn't expect any sane person to deliberately refrain from putting syrup on their pancakes, would we? Well, according to Zendaya – that's exactly the case with her. The star said she had never (yes, never) liked syrup on her pancakes, and prefers to make do with butter alone.
We really think you're missing out, Zendaya! But we appreciate you having such a strong opinion on everything, even desserts.
Favorite Flower
In the Glamour video she took part in for her 19th birthday, Zendaya shared that her favorite flower is Gardenia; and said that the scent of this flower is also her favorite smell in the whole world.
We think that's a solid choice, even though personally, we like roses better. Anyhow – suiters, please take notes so you'll know which flowers to get her to completely win her over!
A Superstitious Girl
Zendaya has confessed to being pretty superstitious. From throwing salt over her shoulder after spilling it to avoiding a path after she's seen a black cat crossing it – she's done it all.
We're not sure if we believe in those kinds of things, but we'd love to see her performing Stevie Wonder's "Superstition!" After all, a song is sung best by a singer who can relate to the lyrics.
A Talented Sleeper
Love to sleep? Well, you'll love this fact about Zendaya: the star has confessed to being a huge fan of sleep (well, who isn't?), and said she could fall asleep pretty much anywhere.
We don't find it too hard to relate, and we challenge the damsel to a sleeping contest at the time and place of her choice! May the best sleeper win.