Disney Channel's breakout star, Zendaya, continues to make headlines for all the right reasons. Whether she's taking a stand against social injustice or slaying the red carpet at an award show, the 18-year-old actress exudes confidence with every move she makes. Many fans wonder how she learned to hone the power of her voice and opinions at such a young age. In the most recent issue of Galore, in which she graces the cover, Zendaya explains why she always speaks her mind and how her parents helped build a strong foundation for her.
Zendaya is a triple threat. Not only does she kick butt on the small screen, currently acting as a math-whiz turned spy in Disney's K.C. Undercover, but she's also made a name for herself as a dancer and singer. Unlike other celebrities who got their start from the kid television network (cough cough, Miley Cyrus), the young actress enjoys being a role model to millions of fans around the world and ensuring the image portrayed in the media is one she's proud of.
The Zapped star is known for being a chameleon when it comes to fashion, especially with her hair. From braids to bob cuts, Zendaya has tried it all. Who could forget her fabulous faux dreadlocks on the 2015 Oscars red carpet and the controversial racist comments that followed from E! News host, Giuliana Rancic, stating her new look made it appear like she smelled of "weed" and "patchouli oil." Rancic received an outpour of backlash for her ridiculous commentary, but Zendaya knew the best way to respond was to educate her on the hairstyle's history instead of bash her.
"My parents always taught me that there is knowledge in your voice," Zendaya said to Galore. I could have clapped back and gone off. Of course I wanted to, everyone wants to do that. I just kept thinking there were other young people dealing with the same kind of issue who were watching me to see how I would respond. I think the way we react to things is a big indicator of our character and what type of person we are. I just had too much respect for myself and didn't want to prove everybody right that's waiting for me to be ignorant and do something dumb, so I took my time until I thought of the best way I could address the comments."
A photo posted by Galore (@kittengalore) on Sep 17, 2015 at 10:55am PDT
A photo posted by Galore (@kittengalore) on Sep 17, 2015 at 12:29pm PDT
Zendaya, who made an appearance in Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" video, owes her thick skin and emotional strength to her parents. Her parents taught her to constantly be aware of her surrounding, which included the happenings in her personal life and the business world, because the two were bound to intertwine. Due to her parents upfront approach to life and consistent honesty, Zendaya finds it easy to stay true to her beliefs and to herself. She revealed she gained an immense amount of confidence after her popular series Shake it Up ended.
"I realized that if I don't like something, I can change it. If I don't feel comfortable with something, then I have a voice to say it's not cool. I didn't start feeling comfortable using my voice until after Shake It Up ended."
The California native doesn't just embrace her role model title through verbal stances, she also does it through subtle images of her personal accomplishments. Recently graduating high school, Zendaya posted an image of herself in a cap and gown excited about the milestone in her life. She believes things like that can inspire fans to stay motivated and push toward their goals despite the obstacles they may be facing.
A photo posted by Zendaya (@zendaya) on Sep 18, 2015 at 1:29pm PDT
A photo posted by Galore (@kittengalore) on Sep 17, 2015 at 11:13am PDT
There's no denying the power of social media. It can be used for both good and evil. In today's time, if you're not fully comfortable with yourself, social media could be your worst nightmare. Whenever it comes to negativity on social media, Zendaya finds ways to heroically take on Internet trolls by setting them straight in the most positive way. Whether she's going after haters for stating mean comments about her parents or praising people for their good hearts, Zendaya carries her Internet presence with pride. She believes you can never go wrong with being "real."
"No. I think it would be worse to post things or say things that are fake," Zendaya responded when asked if being real ever affected her negatively. "When people catch you not being the version of yourself you tried to portray, then people are like, 'Who is this person?' and I think that's bad. I'd rather just be Zendaya the whole time and have no problems."
