Zendaya biography, height, net worth, age, parents, awards, boyfriend 2025

Zendaya Biography

Zendaya, an American actress and singer, rose to fame for her role in HBO's "Euphoria," as Michelle "MJ" Jones in the superhero hit "Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017) and in the musical drama "The Greatest Showman" (2017).

Childhood and Youth

Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California. Her striking look reflects her diverse heritage. Her father, Kazembe Ajamu (born Samuel David Coleman), is African-American with Nigerian, Macedonian, and Icelandic roots. Her mother has German, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. Zendaya has shared that her name means "to give thanks" in Shona, a language spoken in Southern Africa.

Zendaya's mother, Claire Marie Stoermer, owns Kizzmet Jewelry, a store offering handmade jewelry. Zendaya's father works as her manager and agent.

Zendaya inherited her passion for theater and performance from her mother. As a child, she spent a lot of time at the California Shakespeare Theater, where her mother worked as the chief manager and teacher.

16 years old Zendaya

Beyond her impressive acting chops, Zendaya's also a talented dancer. In elementary school, she performed for three years with the dance group Future Shock Oakland, specializing in hip-hop and the Hawaiian hula dance.

Zendaya during her school years, engaged in dancing

Later, Zendaya studied at the Oakland School for the Arts, where she first tried acting. After completing a program at the California Theater, she enrolled in the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, which alumni include Denzel Washington, Elizabeth Banks, Nicolas Cage, Winona Ryder, and Brie Larson. But these masterclasses with renowned teachers only enhanced her already thriving acting career.

Reflecting on her childhood, Zendaya continually expresses gratitude to her parents. They never tried to shield her from reality or shy away from discussing real-world issues, helping her develop into a grounded young woman with critical thinking skills and healthy self-confidence.

Acting Career

Zendaya's career kicked off with modeling gigs for local clothing stores. Around the same time, she landed a spot as a background dancer in a Sears commercial featuring Selena Gomez.

Zendaya in Sears commercial

In 2009, Zendaya broke into television with a supporting role on the hit Disney series "Good Luck Charlie." Plot twist: the role she originally auditioned for went to Bella Thorne, who would become both a close friend and frequent collaborator.

Zendaya made her feature film debut in 2012 with the comedy "Frenemies," directed by Daisy Mayer. She played a high school student competing with her best friend (Bella Thorne) for a coveted magazine collaboration.

In spring 2013, Zendaya participated in the 16th season of "Dancing with the Stars." She held the title of youngest contestant until 14-year-old Willow Shields (Primrose from "The Hunger Games") joined the competition. She was paired with Ukrainian-American pro dancer Val Chmerkovskiy. The pair finished second.

Zendaya vs Jacoby Dancing With The Stars

In 2014, Zendaya starred as Zoey Stevens in Disney's teen comedy "Zapped." The next year, she scored another lead in "K.C. Undercover," playing a teenage spy. The series was well-received and renewed for two more seasons.

In 2015, Zendaya found herself at the center of a racial controversy over her hairstyle. She walked the Oscars red carpet in a white silk gown, sporting thick dreadlocks. Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic made the offensive comment that Zendaya's hair looked like it "smelled of patchouli... or marijuana." Zendaya fired back, explaining that her dreads represented beauty and strength. Rancic later apologized, claiming she was trying to describe a "bohemian look" and didn't mean to offend.

Giuliana's Racist Comments about Zendaya's locs, says it smells like weed

"Spider-Man: Homecoming" in 2017 catapulted Zendaya to international stardom. She played Michelle "MJ" Jones, Peter Parker's (Tom Holland) classmate. The film raked in $117 million in just two days, dominating the box office. Critics raved about Zendaya's performance, with many noting she stole scenes from the leads.

All MJ Scenes in Spiderman Homecoming

That December, Zendaya joined the star-studded cast of "The Greatest Showman" alongside Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, and Rebecca Ferguson. She played Anne Wheeler, a trapeze artist who falls for Efron's character, the wealthy playwright Phillip Carlyle. Despite mixed critical reception, the film became a box office hit, with Efron and Zendaya's performances earning rave reviews as "stunning."

In July 2019, Zendaya appeared in the sequel "Spider-Man: Far From Home." The film starred Tom Holland alongside Jake Gyllenhaal and Samuel L. Jackson, whose casting surprised audiences.

73 Questions With Zendaya - Vogue

In June 2019, Zendaya starred in the dramatic series "Euphoria," produced by rapper Drake. She played Rue, a drug-addicted teen, a challenging role given Zendaya's clean lifestyle. The critical acclaim and audience praise proved she nailed the role.

Zendaya Shares Painful Experience Playing Rue In Euphoria

Music

In 2009, Zendaya recorded a cover of Katy Perry's "Hot n Cold" for the 15th album of the children's cover series "Kidz Bop." Popular singers and actors like Olivia Holt, Becky G, and Kiana Brown have also contributed to this beloved American series.

Zendaya and Bella Thorne – Fashion Is My Kryptonite

In 2011, Zendaya dropped the singles "Swag It Out" and "Watch Me," featuring her "Good Luck Charlie!" co-star Bella Thorne. The song reached number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Zendaya – Swag It Out

A year later, Zendaya recorded soundtracks for the second season of "Good Luck Charlie!" and signed with Hollywood Records. Her debut album "Zendaya" was released on September 17, 2013. The album was well-received by fans, and Zendaya was named "Artist of the Month" by popular radio host Elvis Duran.

Zendaya – Neverland

In February 2015, the singer released "Something New," a collaboration with Chris Brown, marking her first official track with the new label Republic Records. Republic Records has also worked with stars like Amy Winehouse, Nicki Minaj, Ariana Grande, and Lorde.

Zendaya's Personal Life

From 2012 to 2016, Zendaya dated American singer and dancer Trevor Jackson. The couple kept things private, but fans and media eventually pieced together details about the actress's first serious relationship.

Zendaya was also linked to NFL player Odell Beckham Jr. and actor Adam Irigoyen, though she never confirmed either romance.

After "Spider-Man" premiered in 2017, paparazzi photos sparked dating rumors between Zendaya and co-star Tom Holland, though both stayed silent about their relationship status.

But in July 2021, those dating rumors were finally confirmed when they were caught kissing in a car – and the couple stopped playing coy about their romance.

Zendaya and Tom Holland Kissing in a Car

In early 2022, the couple purchased a £3 million London mansion, planning to move in that summer. They chose the property partly for its proximity to Tom's family home.

Tom Holland & Zendaya Answer Fan Questions

Zendaya works as an ambassador for faith-based charity "Convoy of Hope." For her 18th birthday, she launched a campaign to feed 150 children in Tanzania, Haiti, and the Philippines.

In 2013, Zendaya published her debut book "Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence," responding to millions of fan questions from social media.

Zendaya Now

"Euphoria" catapulted Zendaya's career to new heights. After the first season dropped, she became one of the year's most talked-about actresses. The show was renewed for a second season, which premiered in early 2022.

Zendaya also starred in the epic blockbuster "Dune" alongside Timothée Chalamet. She brought to life Chani, a fierce young Fremen woman from the desert planet Arrakis and Paul Atreides' love interest (Chalamet's character).

Around the same time, Zendaya graced the cover of Vogue's October issue.

December 2021 saw the release of the Spider-Man trilogy's epic finale, "Spider-Man: No Way Home," starring Tom Holland. Zendaya returned as MJ.

«Spider-Man: No Way Home» Interviews With Tom Holland, Zendaya, Kevin Feige

2022 brought the highly anticipated second season of "Euphoria" to HBO, with Zendaya returning as Rue, a teen battling addiction and mental health struggles. Zendaya cautioned fans that the new season would be "difficult to watch." The January 9 premiere drew 2.4 million viewers, breaking records for the platform.

Beyond "Dune's" sequel, Zendaya took the lead in "Challengers," a steamy tennis drama centered on a love triangle. She plays Tasha Donaldson, a former tennis pro turned coach. The film also stars Mike Faist and Josh O'Connor.

Zendaya: latest news and articles

New "Dune" Title Drops the Word "Messiah"

10 Jul 2025

Christine Carroll

She is not only an actress but also a singer if I`m not wrong.

2021-04-23 18:36:40
Amanda Gonzales

She also played in Spider-Man: Far From Home. I really didn`t expect to see her there.

2021-03-30 15:11:48
Bobbie Foster

By the way, every time Zendaya has better and better roles, more interesting. Especially I like her role in the movie The Greatest Showman.

2021-03-18 16:34:02
Jackie Hampton

I think she`s got a future. She is playing in Disney movies from her childhood and now it`s time to work for Oscar :)

2021-02-01 10:20:48
Margie Lynch

Before I didn`t like Zendaya and now she became very beautiful, I even started to follow her in Instagram :)

2020-12-31 22:42:41

Photos: Zendaya