Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, known mononymously as Zendaya, has captivated audiences worldwide as an actress, singer, and fashion icon. Born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, Zendaya has garnered numerous accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. Beyond her professional achievements, Zendaya's personal life, particularly her relationship with actor Tom Holland, often finds itself in the spotlight. More recently, Zendaya has had to address claims about her mother's weight loss being used to bait people into clicking on misleading articles.
From Oakland to Hollywood: The Rise of Zendaya
Zendaya's journey began in the San Francisco Bay Area. She grew up in Oakland, where her mother, Claire Stoermer, worked as a teacher. Her father is Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. At age six, she and two friends from the school performed a play there for Black History Month. Growing up, she was exposed to the world of theater through her mother's summer job as the house manager at the California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda. She helped her seat patrons, sold fundraising tickets, and was inspired by the theatrical performances to pursue acting. This early exposure ignited her passion for the performing arts. At age 8, she joined a hip-hop dance troupe called Future Shock Oakland and was a member for three years. She attended Oakland School for the Arts and, while still a student, was cast in several roles in area theaters. Her stage credits include performances in several of William Shakespeare’s plays. She played Lady Anne in Richard III, Celia in As You Like It, and took part in a production of Twelfth Night. When she was in seventh grade, the family moved to Los Angeles.
Her career took off with her role as Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up (2010-2013). She then starred in and produced the channel's sitcom K.C. Undercover (2015-2018). Since then, she has starred in major film and television projects, including the Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man films and the HBO drama series Euphoria. Zendaya made her feature film debut as Michelle in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). She reprised her role in its sequels Far From Home (2019) and No Way Home (2021), both of which grossed over $1 billion worldwide. For her performance as Rue Bennett, a struggling drug-addicted teenager, in the HBO teen drama series Euphoria (2019-present), Zendaya won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the youngest performer to win the category, as well as a Golden Globe Award. Zendaya's other film roles include the musical The Greatest Showman (2017), the romantic dramas Malcolm & Marie (2021) and Challengers (2024), and Chani in the science fiction films Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024).
In addition to her acting career, Zendaya is also a talented singer. In 2011, she released the singles "Swag It Out" and "Watch Me", the latter a collaboration with Bella Thorne. Signed to Hollywood Records, she released her debut studio album, titled Zendaya (2013), to moderate success. Its lead single, "Replay", peaked within the top 40 of the US Billboard 200. Her Zac Efron collaboration, "Rewrite the Stars", from The Greatest Showman soundtrack (2017), reached the top 20 of several record charts and has received multi-platinum sales certifications globally.
A Private Romance in the Public Eye: Zendaya and Tom Holland
The relationship between Zendaya and Tom Holland has been a subject of much fascination for fans. While the couple prefers to keep their romance private, glimpses of their connection have emerged over time.
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Their on-screen chemistry in the Spider-Man films sparked rumors of an off-screen romance, which eventually proved to be true. Despite their high-profile status, Zendaya and Tom Holland have managed to maintain a degree of privacy, often refraining from public displays of affection or detailed commentary on their relationship.
In March 2022, Tom commented on quite a few of Zendaya’s Instagram posts, including one she uploaded on March 3 from a photo shoot. “One of my all-time favorite shoots,” she captioned her post, meanwhile her boyfriend typed out three heart-eyed emojis in a comment. Only a few weeks later, Tom couldn’t help but gush over his girlfriend’s July 2022 Vogue Italia cover.
Tom changed his tune in a big way during a July 3, 2023, appearance on the “Smartless” podcast. “I’m lucky that I have someone like Zendaya in my life,” he gushed to hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett. By March and April of that year, Tom and Zandaya were photographed walking through various cities, from Boston to New York. The date nights didn’t end in 2023 as the pair were spotted taking a stroll through King Henry’s VIII’s Hampton Court Palace in London that April. “I’ve had some special moments at Historic Royal Palaces but this has to count as one of the best ever,” she wrote in April 2023.
Claire Stoermer: Zendaya's Mother and Inspiration
Claire Stoermer, Zendaya's mother, has played a significant role in her daughter's life and career. As a teacher, Claire instilled in Zendaya the importance of education and a strong work ethic. She supported campaigns to raise awareness about underserved communities, and underprivileged schools and to financially support schools. She partnered with Verizon Foundation as a spokesperson for their national #WeNeedMore initiative to bring technology, access, and learning opportunities to children. She was empowering them to pursue careers in STEM. She teamed up with Google.org to give back to students at a community school in Oakland funding an innovative computer science curriculum.
Claire's influence extends beyond academics. Her work at the California Shakespeare Theater introduced Zendaya to the world of acting, setting her on the path to stardom.
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Addressing Weight Loss Clickbait
Recently, Zendaya took to social media to address the issue of "clickbait" articles using her mother's name and image to promote weight loss products or stories. “Clickbait typically refers to the practice of writing sensationalized or misleading headlines in order to attract clicks on a piece of content,” Claire wrote via her Instagram Stories. “It often relies on exaggerating claims or leaving out key information in order to encourage traffic.
These articles often feature misleading headlines and fabricated stories, exploiting people's interest in weight loss and celebrity news. Zendaya has publicly condemned these practices, emphasizing the importance of accurate information and ethical journalism.
Activism and Advocacy
Zendaya has lent her support to several charities and causes. In 2012, she became an ambassador for Convoy of Hope and encouraged fans to support Hurricane Sandy response efforts. The following year, she promoted other relief efforts. In 2014, Zendaya recorded John Legend's song "All of Me" with a portion of the proceeds going to the organization. In 2016, she celebrated her 20th birthday with a campaign to raise $50,000 to support Convoy's Women's Empowerment Initiative. In October 2012, Zendaya performed at the medical Operation Smile benefit. She was UNICEF's Trick-or-Treat 2014 campaign spokesperson. In July 2015, she visited South Africa with UNAIDS, the United Nations programme dedicated to preventing and creating access to treatment for HIV and AIDS. Zendaya supports campaigns to raise awareness about underserved communities, underprivileged schools and to financially support schools.
She took part in the George Floyd protests in June 2020 and temporarily lent her Instagram account to Patrisse Cullors to share anti-racism resources and media.
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