Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, known simply as Zendaya, emerged as a performance powerhouse at an astonishingly young age: just 14 years old. Now, she’s a household name and a quintuple threat—actress, singer, dancer, model, activist.
Her breakout role as Rocky Blue in Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up catapulted her into the limelight, showcasing her acting prowess as well as her ability to connect with audiences of all ages. Following her Disney days, Zendaya began landing more mature roles, notably playing drug-addicted teenager Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria, where her portrayal earned her notoriety as the youngest recipient of the Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Twice.
Superhero movie Spider-Man: Homecoming marked Zendaya’s film debut, and she’s since starred and dazzled in musical The Greatest Showman, romantic drama Malcolm & Marie, and science fiction epic Dune. Her on- and off-screen talent and passion secured her a spot on TIME magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.
Director of Dune Denis Villeneuve celebrated Zendaya’s win, writing, "She is an autonomous creative force herself. A cultural icon in the making. A person driven by pure inspiration, empathy, and respect for her craft, who uses authenticity as a new superpower. She seems fearless, her roots run deep, and I love that she still laughs like a kid. Zendaya is the future. And there is nothing more comforting to me. This is only the beginning".
A role model for many, she encourages self-love and confidence, champions representation in the entertainment industry, and advocates for inclusivity, social justice, and women’s rights. Regarded as a beacon of empowerment, style, and grace for generations, Zendaya's impact undoubtedly transcends her roles on screen.
Here are 34 Zendaya quotes that encapsulate her authentic brilliance, each one a testament to her inspiring perspective on work, life, confidence, and the pursuit of one's dreams. We’ll be reading these over and over again until we see her on our screens for Dune: Part Two, premiering in March 2024.
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34 Zendaya quotes that exude the Dune actress’s wisdom
Zendaya on making a difference no matter your age
1. “I want to show that you don’t have to be older to live your dreams; you can do it at any age.”
2. “I love seeing young people take a stance and not be afraid to say how they feel, and protest when they feel things are wrong or unjust.”
3. “I want young people to know there is no age limit to when they can start their own business or when they can become a boss.”
4. “My generation has the opportunity to change the world.”
5. “I think we are in a time where the youth play such a huge role. It’s up to us to go the extra mile to vote and raise our voices.”
6. “I was very inspired by working women, and also women who aren’t working yet!”
Zendaya on confidence and feminism
7. "Personally, I would much rather live and die by my own hand. If my stuff sucks, then at least I made it suck. I didn't allow some person, some old dude in a suit, to make it suck for me."
8. “I think women are very powerful, and I think we’re more powerful together than separated.”
9. “I’m one of those people who doesn’t follow trends. I set them.”
10. “My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of color that our hair is good enough.”
11. "A feminist is a person who believes in the power of women just as much as they believe in the power of anyone else. It's equality, it's fairness, and I think it's a great thing to be a part of."
12. "You shouldn’t feel discouraged if you’re not waking up and feeling amazing about yourself…as long as you take every opportunity to learn more about yourself and fall more in love with yourself every day, you’re doing good."
13. "I think it’s important to always be very confident in yourself and your beliefs and stay strong in that."
Read more: The Perils of ‘Professionalism’: How Dress Codes at Work Discriminate & Exclude
Zendaya on taking risks, achieving success, and using your influence
14. “No matter what field you’re in, determination will surely get you to the top.”
15. “A, surround yourself by positive people who will help you reach your goal and support you. And B, go for it!”
16. “You have to experiment, and that’s gonna help your confidence so much when you step out and try things.”
17. “You can’t grow and gain confidence from wearing the same thing every day.”
18. “I use my platform for more than just myself. Art is a reflection of human emotions. To neglect the political is to neglect what essentially is your job of storytelling. I would rather be known for the content of my character than for the project that I did.”
19. “If I want to do something powerful or special, then I contact people I think are smart, educated, inspiring and I’ll say, “What are you doing? How can I help?”
20. “If you don’t try things and take risks, you don’t really grow and figure out what you want.”
Zendaya on being yourself and proud of who you are
21. “I don’t mind if people look at me like I’m crazy. I’m just being me.”
22. “Don’t try so hard to fit in, and certainly don’t try so hard to be different. Just try hard to be you.”
23. “The best thing is to realize that you are who you are and you gotta work with what you got.”
24. “I would say my best decision I ever made was to pursue my dream and give it my all. Thankfully, I have not yet made really bad decisions. I’m the kind of person to play it on the safe side.”
Zendaya on positivity and remembering what matters
25. “There are so many great things in life; why dwell on negativity?”
26. “It is important in this journey to remember that just because someone has inflicted hurt upon us, it does not give us the right to do the same.”
27. “I try to be nice to everyone, because I have no clue what’s going on in their world.”
28. "Our instinct is to think about the bad things happening in our lives, but at the end of the day it's always more about the people who love you."
29. “I’ve always learned how to deal with my problems through my words, through my education, and through my intelligence, which I think is important and the best way to deal with an issue.”
30. "You cannot allow other people's opinions, comments, or decisions affect how you feel about yourself."
Zendaya on mental health, happiness, and friendship
31. “The good news is good friends—make that great friends—will see you through everything. They are your sounding board, your cheerleading squad, your cross-my-heart-hope-to-die secret keepers. You may rely on an old one you’ve known since preschool or lean on a new one you met in homeroom. The point is, this person is going to have your back no matter how long you’ve known him or her.”
32. “You may not have a special life, but you make life special.”
33. “I like to [unplug] and enjoy being a human.”
34. “It’s important to know when to take your time and not overspend and overdo things.”
Read more: How Can We Break Free of Toxic Productivity?
