Who Is Zendaya? 9 Facts In 90 Seconds On The 'Replay' Singer And 'K.C. Undercover' Actress (PICS)
Who Is Zendaya?
Daniel Welsh— The Huffington Post UK
|
Just weeks after splitting up with Perrie Edwards, it has been claimed that Zayn Malik has already set his sights on US singer and actress Zendaya - but just who is the young up-and-coming star, who has reportedly caught the former 1D star's eye?
Well, for starters, she’s more than just the recipient of a few text messages from a former boyband singer, that’s for sure, and over in the States, Zendaya has a well-established career of her own.
With acting credits including ‘K.C. Undercover’, ‘Shake It Up’ and the hit ABC series ‘Black-ish’, not to mention her critically-acclaimed self-titled album, under her belt, we reckon it won't be long before Zendaya is a household name in countries all over the world.
All that and she’s still just shy of her 19th birthday. Impressive stuff, right?
Here are nine must-know facts about the future star, in the latest of our 9 Facts In 90 Seconds series...
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(01 of08)
Open Image Modal
Triple-threat Zendaya was born Maree Stoermer Coleman in September 1996 (frighteningly, that makes her almost 19 years old). Her name means 'giving thanks' in Shona, a language spoken in South Africa. (credit:Michael Bezjian via Getty Images)
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(02 of08)
Open Image Modal
In America, she's best known for her work on the Disney Channel, in particular for her leading role in the spy-based series 'K.C. Undercover'. Following in the footsteps of Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Selena Gomez, Zendaya is a Disney star who has since crossed over to the mainstream. (credit:Richard Shotwell/AP)
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(03 of08)
Open Image Modal
However, Zendaya admits that she didn't think she'd ever make it as an actress, instead claiming she thought she'd be a professional basketball player."My parents had me playing basketball on competitive teams when I was in kindergarten," she says, "Even though my heart belongs to the arts, I'm a tomboy at heart, too." (credit:Lionel Hahn/ABACA USA)
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(04 of08)
Open Image Modal
She was originally cast as Aaliyah in the Lifetime biopic 'More Than A Woman', but eventually dropped out of the project, claiming that the "production value" wasn't there.Ouch - only the best for Ms Zendaya, evidently. (credit:Omar Vega/AP)
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(05 of08)
Open Image Modal
She has a close relationship with her fans - the curiously titled 'Zswaggers' - who she confesses to 'stalking' on Twitter and Instagram when she's bored. (credit:Brad Barket via Getty Images)
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(06 of08)
Open Image Modal
Despite being outspoken and very vocal nowadays, Zendaya says that she hasn't always been quite as outgoing, and had to repeat kindergarten as a child "because she was so shy". Awww! (credit:Lionel Hahn/ABACA USA)
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(07 of08)
Open Image Modal
Earlier this year, Zendaya was on the receiving end of some pretty harsh criticism from 'Fashion Police' presenter Giuliana Rancic, who claimed that the locs she'd worn her hair in made her look as though 'she smells of patchouli oil... or weed'.The teenage actress gained major props from us when she responded in an articulate and dignified fashion, calling the comments "outrageously offensive" and "ignorant", before listing a string of women known for wearing their hair in locs, insisting: "And none of them smell of weed."Nicely done. (credit:Steve Granitz via Getty Images)
Zendaya: 9 Facts In 90 Seconds(08 of08)
Open Image Modal
In 2012, at the age of 16, Zendaya became the youngest ever contestant to appear on the US version of 'Strictly', 'Dancing With The Stars'.Impressively, she ended up finishing in second place, behind country singer Kellie Pickler. (credit:Evan Agostini/AP)
Check out the video for her single, Replay, below: