Zendaya

Even in Tinseltown, this star shines like a radiant supernova, captivating audiences with her talent, charisma and unlimited kindness

- CHARLTON KNIGHT

Born in Oakland, California, Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman promised versatility and ambition as a performer from a young age. Captivating audiences globally as a style maven and trendsetter, and an enthusiastic flag-bearer for inclusivity and sincerity, she has become an icon for marginalised groups and is a passionate advocate for social change, using her platform to spread positivity.

THE ENTERTAINER EMERGES

Despite her parents' wishes for her to pursue sport, Zendaya studied at the Oakland School for the Arts. She worked as a teen model and danced in a hip-hop crew, and started out in acting in stage productions at the California Shakespeare Theatre.

"I was actually supposed to be a basketball player, not an actress," she told Hollywood Insider. "My parents had me playing basketball on competitive teams when I was in kindergarten. Even though my heart belongs to the arts, I'm a tomboy at heart, too."