Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, professionally known as Zendaya, is a renowned actress, singer, and fashion icon. She was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, to Claire Marie Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. Although she is the only child from her parents' union, she has five older half-siblings on her father's side. Her unique name, Zendaya, is derived from the Shona language of Zimbabwe and means “to give thanks.”

Early Life and Training in the Performing Arts

Zendaya developed an early passion for the performing arts, influenced in part by her mother’s work as a house manager at the California Shakespeare Theater in Oakland. She attended the Oakland School for the Arts and actively participated in school and community theater productions. She also trained at the CalShakes Conservatory Program, where she honed her acting skills.

At the age of eight, Zendaya joined the hip-hop dance group Future Shock Oakland and remained with the group for three years. As her talents expanded into modeling, she secured jobs with renowned brands including Macy’s, Sears, and Old Navy. In 2009, she also featured in a Kidz Bop music video, showcasing her dancing talents.

Breakthrough with Disney Channel

Zendaya's major breakthrough came in 2010 when she was cast as Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel series Shake It Up, which she auditioned for in 2009. The show, which ran until 2013, also starred Bella Thorne and helped catapult both actresses to fame. Together, they released the song “Watch Me” in 2011, which gained popularity among teens.

In 2013, shortly after Shake It Up concluded, Zendaya competed in season 16 of Dancing with the Stars, partnered with professional dancer Valentin Chmerkovskiy. At 16, she was the show's youngest-ever contestant at the time and finished in second place. Zendaya continued her collaboration with Disney by starring in the spy-comedy series K.C. Undercover from 2015 to 2018. She also appeared in the Disney Channel Original Movies Frenemies (2012) and Zapped (2014).

Transition to Feature Films

Zendaya successfully transitioned to film in 2017, following her role as Michelle “MJ” Jones in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. Though some fans were initially surprised by her casting, it was clarified that MJ was a distinct character and not a direct portrayal of Mary Jane Watson. Her performance was well-received, earning her Teen Choice and Kids’ Choice Awards, as well as a Saturn Award nomination for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.

That same year, Zendaya co-starred in the musical film The Greatest Showman, portraying trapeze artist Anne Wheeler. Her performance, paired with her vocal contributions to the film’s soundtrack, helped establish her as a versatile performer in both acting and music.

Zendaya has remained active in film, reprising her role in the Spider-Man sequels and taking on roles in projects such as Finest Kind, alongside Ansel Elgort and Jake Gyllenhaal. She is also set to voice characters in animated films like Duck Duck Goose and Smallfoot, and is attached to star in and produce the drama A White Lie.