An actress well known for her versatility, Zendaya has come a long way from her breakout role as the titular character of the Disney TV show K.C. Undercover.
Zendaya’s star continues to ascend as she garners widespread acclaim and numerous accolades throughout her acting career. Most notably, she recently earned a Primetime Emmy for her captivating performance as the lead in the HBO TV series Euphoria.
However, her rise to stardom didn’t happen overnight. What it took to become this prominent begins long before her stint as KC Cooper.
From Shy Beginner to Theatrical Talent: Zendaya’s Early Stage Experience
As a young girl, Zendaya began working in the theater, specifically the California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda (or Cal Shakes), where her mother, Claire Stoermer, was the manager.
Young Zendaya showcasing her early style and youthful charm in a plaid jacket and a stylish black hat at the premiere of “You Again” at the El Capitan Theatre on September 22, 2010, in Hollywood, California (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN / FayesVision / Starbux)
In an interview with Datebook, Stoermer remembers Zendaya as being so shy that she repeated kindergarten and how everything changed when she started taking theater classes: “[it] brought her out of her shell.”
She adds, “I had to push her to go to it. But I do remember seeing her up there on that stage, and just the few little moments that she had her spotlight, it was like, ‘whoa’.”
Rising Star on Disney: Zendaya’s Journey from Commercials to Leading Roles
In the early days of her budding career, Zendaya rubbed elbows with other Disney stars. She was featured in an iCarly toys commercial and danced with Selena Gomez in a Sears commercial.
Zendaya stars as K.C. Cooper, a teenage spy in disguise, in a comedic scene from the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover (Credit: Disney Channel)
2009 marked her first starring role in a sitcom called Shake It Up, for which she auditioned for CeCe Jones.
But instead of receiving the part, she was cast as Rocky Blue alongside Bella Thorne, who played CeCe. The show became the second highest-rated premiere in Disney Channel’s history.
Redefining Diversity: Zendaya’s Impact on Disney Channel
After “Shake It Up” ended in 2013, Zendaya pursued another role—the star of the upcoming show, “K.C. Undercover.” In an interview with The Seattle Times, she explained her decision to take on the part.
“The only reason I wanted to come back to the Disney Channel is because there was a lack of diversity at that time,” she said.
Zendaya channels her inner mime with a playful and theatrical look at the premiere of Megamind held at Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on October 30, 2010 (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN / FayesVision / Starbux)
“There weren’t any leads or families of color, and I felt like that was something that needed to happen. And I thought the idea of a girl doing a ‘guy role’ was really important. Young women are able to look at the screen and see that they can be anything, that they can do it all. A little boy can look up to a girl and say, ‘I want to be like this girl.’ And that’s awesome.”
“K.C. Undercover” began filming in late 2014 with then-18-year-old Zendaya and premiered on January 18, 2015. The show ran for three seasons, ending on February 2, 2018.
To celebrate its end, the actress said in an Instagram post that it was the “end of an era. On to the next. Thank you for continuing to grow with me.”
Zendaya strikes a confident pose as K.C. Cooper, ready for action in the Disney Channel series K.C. Undercover (Credit: Disney Channel)
As Zendaya’s career evolved, she sought out roles that pushed her boundaries and allowed her to explore more mature and challenging content. This willingness to take risks is evident not only in her choice of roles but also in the personal experiences she shares, such as her memorable first encounter with an R-rated movie—an experience that highlights her journey from Disney star to a more seasoned and versatile actress.
Zendaya’s First R-Rated Movie: A Memorable Experience and Parental Reaction
Do you remember when you watched your first R-rated movie? Zendaya does. The reason she remembers isn’t because of the movie itself but rather the reaction her parents had.
Zendaya chatted about the first R-rated movie she ever saw during a guest appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” filmed at ABC Studios in Los Angeles.
Zendaya exudes effortless style in a sleek, sleeveless black vest dress, paired with a chic blonde pixie cut at ABC Studios in Los Angeles on February 10, 2016, for an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN / FayesVision / Starbux)
The then-19-year-old actress revealed that her first R-rated movie was the 2005 American sex comedy film Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo, which she mistakenly watched with her unsuspecting dad, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman.
“Yes, actually, I remember—it was by accident, so… This title just speaks for itself, Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo,” she laughed during her interview.
“That was the first one, with my dad! And my mom freaked out when she found out. She was like, ‘What did you take my daughter to see?!’ But you know what I mean… It was daddy-daughter day, it was an accident, it happened. I don’t think he knew how bad it was gonna be, you know what I’m saying? I don’t know, I was just too young to watch it, so I didn’t really get all of the humor and everything like that, but I have a cool dad, so my parents are like, ‘If you want to see something, it’s alright. If it scares you or whatever, it’s your fault. You wanted to see it.'”
Zendaya stuns in a tailored sleeveless black vest and matching trousers, perfectly complemented by sparkling embellished sandals and a chic blonde pixie cut (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN / FayesVision / Starbux)
Zendaya’s menswear game was strong in a double-breasted waistcoat and matching trousers. The young star showed off her sexy feet in a pair of Giuseppe Zanotti “Carine” sandals to insert glam into her otherwise plain outfit.
The former Disney star’s hairstyle had been getting mixed reviews (don’t worry, it’s a wig), but we loved it. Granted, Zendaya would get her long tresses back in a few hours, but there’s something very runway-chic about her short blonde ‘do.
Zendaya shows off her perfectly pedicured toes in these stunning high-heeled sandals, accentuating her height with a pair of sparkling, jewel-embellished straps that add a touch of glamour to her sophisticated look (Credit: Michael Wright / WENN / FayesVision / Starbux)
Zendaya later slipped into a pair of jeans, a “Love” tee by Fyodor Golan, and a pair of bow sandals for the show.
The Giuseppe Zanotti “Carine” sandals are no longer available online, but check out the brand’s other embellished beauties at Farfetch and Amazon.
Giuseppe Zanotti ‘Carine’ Sandals
Giuseppe Zanotti Crystal-Embellished Suede Sandals, $3,290
Giuseppe Zanotti Jewel-Embellished Silk Evening Sandal in Black, $1,750