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Entertainment August 30, 2017
Age is just a number, right?
Photo by Tinseltown via ShutterstockZendaya’s constant presence under the spotlight, on our screens and in magazine headlines has many people wondering how old Zendaya really is. Her career and maturity might lead you to think that she may be in her late 20s or early 30s. However, the reality of the situation is Zendaya is only 21 years young.
No, that’s not a typo and yes, we fact-checked this information.
Kazembe Coleman and Claire Stoermer received their baby girl, Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, on September 1, 1996, making her 21 years old. And in just the little time she’s had so far, she has touched countless lives as a singer, actress, fashion designer and role model.
Zendaya’s family is pretty big, to say the least. Zendaya has five siblings: Annabella Stoermer Coleman, Austin Stoermer Coleman, Kaylee Stoermer Coleman, Julien Stoermer Coleman and Katianna Stoermer Coleman. From her siblings, she has a total of 8 nieces and nephews. She takes countless photos and videos with them and most of them call her Auntie Daya.
According to her profile page on the Hollywood Records website, she started her career at the Berkeley Playhouse, where she starred in “Once On This Island.” She also performed in Palo Alto’s TheaterWorks, where they cast her as a traditionally male character, Joe, in “Caroline, or Change.”
However, her talents were always more than just acting. Zendaya modeled for Macy’s, Mervyn’s and Old Navy. Additionally, she became a backup dancer for Selena Gomez’s Sears commercial that helped spark her dancing career. She danced with a hip-hop dance troupe and later spent two years hula dancing with The Academy of Hawaiian Arts.
Milestone? She made her entrance into television and kick-started her fast-growing career.
How old was Zendaya? 14 years old.
On Nov. 7, 2010, Disney aired its first episode of “Shake It Up” on Disney Channel with Bella Thorne as CeCe and Zendaya as Rocky Blue. As she explains in her Just Jared Jr. interview, Zendaya didn’t audition for Rocky. She actually wanted to play the rebel, CeCe Jones. However, once she read for the role of Rocky, she instantly fell in love. “I really felt Rocky,” she said. “I had a connection with her character. And when I went with Bella it was like instant chemistry.”
Milestone? She started a whole new career as a singer and showed the world just how dynamic she is as a star.
How old was Zendaya? 15 years old
On Aug. 8, 2012, she signed with Hollywood Records, a label that focuses on pop, rock and alternative music. Zendaya released this information to her fans through a very excited tweet the moment the news hit the internet.
She released her first single, titled “Replay,” on July 16, 2013, which peaked at no. 2 on U.S. Billboard’s Dance Club Play. Later that year in September, she released her self-titled electro-pop/R&B album, which sold over 10,000 copies in the first week. She toured all around the country for her “Swag It Out” tour to promote her hit album. She also performed on hit talk shows like “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “The Today Show” and “106 & Park.”
Milestone? She added a producer credit to her resumé at 18 – a feature that many actors don’t receive until much later in their careers.
How old was Zendaya? 18 years old
On Jan. 18, 2015, “K.C. Undercover” premiered on Disney Channel and took the previously watered down network by storm. After “Shake It Up” aired its last episode, Disney was desperate to keep Zendaya and keep its momentum from “Shake It Up.” So, about two years prior to the show’s premiere date, Zendaya took her list of demands to Disney execs and negotiated a deal. In this deal, she would be a producer of the show, it would not water her spy character down by making her a singer or dancer by day and her character would be genuine in her actions.
Zendaya Coleman desired for young girls to see that there’s more to being a girl than dancing, singing and wearing dresses – not that she saw anything wrong with this depiction. She just wanted to show a multifaceted star. Zendaya wanted her character to be a brainiac that’s a socially awkward tomboy. And that’s exactly what this 16-year-old boss lady got.
Milestone? Zendaya expands her brand past media and music and makes a name for herself in the fashion industry.
How old was Zendaya? 20 years old
On Nov. 4, 2016, Zendaya Coleman launched her every girl fashion line. And by every girl, we mean she literally made her clothing for every type of girl. If you’re a tomboy, she has something for you. Maybe you’re a fashionista? She has something for you. Even if you are somewhere in the middle, she has something for you, too. Zendaya made sure that her line was representative of her own fashion.
She even has a wide variety of sizes in her collection. There is literally no girl left behind and we love it. It’s dynamic, stylish and still super comfortable. Zendaya’s successful created a line that’s affordable, diverse and inclusive? Not only that, but she has luxury fashion stores like Nordstrom buying her clothes, too.
Milestone? Her first movie premiere on the big screen was a critically-acclaimed hit.
How old was Zendaya? 20 years old
On July 7, 2017, “Spider-Man: Homecoming” hit the theaters with Zendaya Coleman playing the highly sought after role of Michelle. In this movie, Zendaya’s character wasn’t the key love interest. The woman who kept Spiderman’s attention was a predominantly comic-based character named Liz Allan, played by the amazing Laura Harrier. However, that fact doesn’t diminish Zendaya’s role in the least.
In fact, it furthered her symbol as the “every girl” role model. Michelle acted as the smart nerdy-type that had hilariously sarcastic commentary and a heart of gold. And she will play a bigger role in the upcoming installments, but it wasn’t necessary for her to be the center of attention in this film. Her character is hugely important to the story, but Michelle didn’t have to fit a certain archetype to achieve this feat.
In a span of six years, Zendaya Coleman has turned her Disney career into an empire. What industry do you think she will tackle next? Share your ideas about her next moves in the comments section below!
