31 Zendaya Facts: An American Actress And Singer!

24-year-old Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman is one of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Zendaya once revealed that her name 'Zendaya' was inspired by the African word 'Tendai' in Shona language, which means 'to give thanks'. But it was her father, who had a thing for the word 'Zen', and thus, she got her unique name, Zendaya.

You might probably know that even before hitting the big screen, fans knew Zendaya Coleman as a popular Disney Channel star. But did you know that before becoming a big shot, Zendaya's career began as a child model and that she once appeared as a backup dancer for Selena Gomez in a Sears commercial? Read on to discover more mind-blowing facts about this former Disney star.

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman is a California girl born in Oakland. She was born on September 1, 1996. At a young age, Zendaya was introduced to the world of acting by her mother, Claire Stoermer, who worked at the Shakespeare Theatre in Orinda, California as a house manager. She went to the Oakland School of Arts, where she learned the craft of acting and dancing.

Zendaya performed in a number of plays on stage. She was also a part of the hip-hop dance troop 'Future Shock' for three years. Zendaya was also a hula dancer with the Academy of Hawaiian Arts. It was her on-stage acting experience and fine dance moves that made her the perfect choice for the show 'Shake It Up', featured on Disney Channel. Interestingly, 'Shake It Up' had the highest-rated debut of a Disney Channel show, second only to Hannah Montana.

In her tween years, she played the character of Rocky Blue in 'Shake it Up' along with her co-actor Bella Thorne, who played Ce Ce Jones. The show made young Zendaya a household name. Her portrayal of Rocky Blue was widely loved; she played an adorable, responsible, intelligent, practical, and vegetarian who strongly advocates for animal and human rights.

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Cool Facts About Zendaya

Zendaya was the youngest contestant to participate in the 16th season of the show 'Dancing with the Stars'. The young star was just 16 years old when she stood up to Disney and demanded they cast a black family for K.C. Undercover. She also pushed the writers to make her character a smart girl trained in martial arts. She also convinced them to add layers to the character by making her socially awkward and bad at singing and dancing, which was just the opposite of Disney's portrayal of girls.

Zendaya Coleman is also a popular name in the modeling world. She began her career as a fashion model for brands like Macy's and Old Navy. The 5 ft. 10 in. (176.8 cm) supermodel has featured in many brand commercials and walked the runway for prestigious labels.

The bold and beautiful Zendaya isn't someone you would want to mess with. When Fashion Police Giuliana Rancic made a racist comment on the star's Oscar red carpet look, saying she must smell like patchouli oil and weed because of her deadlocks, she hit back immediately. She was just 15 years old back then, but that did not stop her from standing up for herself or any girl of color. Rancic issued a public apology after Zendaya called him out. But it was Mattel who stole the show by honoring Zendaya with a unique limited-edition Barbie doll inspired by her red carpet looks.

The 24-year-old hot and bubbly star is a social butterfly, and this facet of her personality shines through her social media feeds and interviews. However, she wasn't always this confident and extrovert. In fact, young Zendaya was a super shy kid. She had to repeat kindergarten to be on the same level as her peers.

One of the most popular Disney stars, Zendaya, owns a giant Schnauzer dog named Midnight.

Funny Facts About Zendaya

Did you know that the Spider-Man actress actually chews her ice cream? Zendaya's teeth aren't sensitive to cold. So, she does not lick her favorite Haagen Daaz scoops of ice cream but bites them with her front teeth. Now, that's a funny way of eating ice cream! Another weird teeth trivia about the actress is that she was born with 31 teeth instead of 32.

Speaking of Spider-Man, Zendaya's first date was to see a 'Spider-Man' movie. And she loved the movie. But who could have predicted that she'd be the lead in a Spiderman film opposite Tom Holland years later?

Zendaya is a Potterhead. She loves Harry Potter. But the fact that she watches a Harry Potter movie every day is a bit odd. According to the star, her self-care regime includes rewatching her favorite show on TV as it helps calm her down.

Did you know Channing Tatum is one of her celebrity crushes? She loves the fact that Channing Tatum can dance and says she admires people with multiple talents. Zendaya got to work with Channing Tatum on the film 'Smallfoot'.

Zendaya was teased as a kid for having a big head. Zendaya's older siblings always made fun of her because of her large head. However, this never buttered her relationship with her five siblings, three sisters, and two brothers.

Did you know Zendaya could have been your teacher if she hadn't become an actor? Both her parents are teachers, and her mother has been titled a local hero for her work in inspiring young children to pursue the arts and explore the world of Shakespeare. Watching her parents' devotion instilled an unmatched appreciation for the profession.

Films By Zendaya

A leading star of two widely popular Disney Channel shows, an author, a singer, and a promising Hollywood actress, Zendaya has carved quite a career graph at just 24!

Her acting career on TV began in 2010 when Zendaya portrayed the character of Raquel, popularly known as Rocky Blue. The show was a hit, and it ran till 2013. While she was still starring in the show, she released her first single, 'Swag It Out' in 2011.

She also starred in 'Frenemies' (2012) and 'Zapped' (2014). 2013 was Zendaya's year as she released her first full album named after her, which featured the hit song 'Replay'. She also published her book, 'Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence' in the same year.

In the year 2015, she starred in Disney's K.C. Undercover, and in the same year, the actress-singer broadened her spectrum beyond the world of Disney by appearing as a guest star on the TV comedy 'Black-ish'.

Did you know Zendaya has appeared in music videos for Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and Bruno Mars?

In 2017, Zendaya got her big break with the character of Michelle Jones in 'Spider-Man: Homecoming', and her character was reprised in 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' (2019). She also starred in the musical film 'The Greatest Showman'. Zendaya and her co-star Zac Effron performed impressive aerial stunts for their roles as Anne Wheeler.

In 2019, she grabbed the role of Rue Bennett in 'Euphoria'. She bagged the Primetime Emmy for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her realistic portrayal of Rue Bennet.

Her 2021 filmography included the romantic drama 'Malcolm and Marie' that she filmed during the lockdown and 'The animated Space Jam: A New Legacy'. She was once a featured performer in a 'Kidz Bop' video.

Networth Of Zendaya

A successful actor, model, singer, dancer, and brand ambassador, Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman is a multimillionaire, with her net worth estimated to be around $15 million.

Zendaya has starred in a number of blockbuster movies, including the highest-grossing Spider-Man movies—'Spider-Man Homecoming' and 'Spiderman No Way Home'. Spider-Man Homecoming grossed a whopping $117 million in its first weekend. Along with that, she also played a prominent role in the movie, 'Dune'. It is said that for her role in Dune, she got an estimated salary of $300,000.

This Disney star is also a successful producer and entrepreneur who recently released her book and launched her Daya shoe collection, followed by her clothing line, Dayaby Zendaya. Not to forget that she has a Barbie doll inspired by her! Zendaya is truly a pathbreaker!

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