Why We STAN Zendaya

graphic by iseabail kelley

Zendaya is one of the few actresses that literally nobody dislikes. If anyone does, they’re probably just jealous that their significant other would cheat on them with her. That, or they’re jealous that they live a normal life while Zendaya gets to be Zendaya (both are very valid reasons).

It’s hard to believe that just seven years ago, Zendaya was starring alongside Bella Thorne, doing something comparable to Tik Tok dances, in “Shake it Up.” People forget, but the Disney path didn’t even stop there. Zendaya was on “K.C. Undercover” until 2017—a show with classic Disney Channel corny jokes like “my dog ate my homework!!,” with an uncomfortable five-second laugh track following immediately after. 

The same year that “KC Undercover” ended, “Spider-man: Homecoming” premiered. We know from all of the Disney actresses and actors who came before Zendaya that it’s difficult to be considered a serious actress while also starring on a children’s TV network, especially if it’s Disney Channel… but this didn’t stop Zendaya. Not only was “Spiderman” not an average blockbuster movie, but it’s part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which is the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time. Not to mention Zendaya stars as Tom Holland’s–who plays Spiderman–love interest. No further comment needed on that one. And although a woman’s worth is NOT determined by who they date, while we’re on the topic of guys, we might as well mention that she dated Jacob Elordi. Again, we’ll leave it at that. 

Then, in 2019, “Euphoria” was released. “Euphoria” is a heart wrenching, raw, real, and just overall amazing drama series. It requires a completely different kind of acting than Disney, and even Marvel. We can think of maybe two times that Rue, who Zendaya played, smiled throughout the entire season. She played a teenage girl battling a multitude of mental health issues, as well as a drug addiction that nearly resulted in her death. And, she earned an Emmy for it.

Up against iconic women like Sandra Oh and Jennifer Aniston, Zendaya became the youngest actress ever to win in her category, “Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.” Even though Zendaya had to compete against women who have rocked the industry for years, Zendaya still WON THAT SHIT. What’s even more iconic, in her acceptance speech, she said, “there is hope in the young people,” like the activist QUEEN she is. 

We could go on and on about why we stan Zendaya. She is a role model for all, advocating for Black lives, and working with countless organizations such as UNICEF and PETA. Honestly, she’s one of the few celebrities who actually cares about people. We literally feel like proud moms having watched her since “Shake it Up” and if you take away anything from this article, it should be that Jerk does not accept any Zendaya slander. None at all.