Zendaya covers the December issue of Allure. I wondered why, because she doesn’t have a lot of stuff out currently, but I think she’s promoting her Tommy Hilfiger collaboration. Which is cool! Zendaya usually gives a good interview – she’s young (23) and earnest and self-aware. She’s not looking to beef with other people, and she gives a sh-t about the world around her. She talks about police brutality, recognizing the women of color who came before her in the fashion industry, and a lot more – you can read her full interview here. Some highlights:
What she wishes her fans understood about her: “I think my fans pretty much understand me. They know I don’t leave my house, they know that I’m lazy, they know that I’m pretty open but also pretty private. I think we have, in a weird way, a pretty close relationship. My fans get me for sure.”
Her Tommy x Zendaya collaboration has plus sizes: “That was my thing — I’m not going to make clothes my sister or my niece or any of the women in my family can’t wear. A lot of the clothes were for tall people too. For my mom, this is the first time that she can wear pants and not get them altered — she’s six feet four.”
On pay equity: “I don’t have enough information. I just started reading my own damn contracts not that long ago, so I don’t know. I have to be more aware and know a little bit more to even figure out what [the root issue is] and how to fix it. I think it’s about accountability for sure.”
What Hollywood needs more of: Coming-of-age stories with black leads that “can be funny and can be about their awkward moments, and puberty, and all that stuff,” she says. See also: sci-fi with a black lead. “A little girl who can, I don’t know, control the weather, or can talk to aliens. Just some fun sh-t.”
On the killing of black men and boys by the police: “It [felt like they] happened back to back to back. I just started crying. My dad had gone out to get some food, and I was immediately like, ‘Where is he? Is he okay?’ I’m worried about my dad. My dad is a 60-something-year-old man, and I’m worried about my dad. And then I started thinking about my brothers, and I’m just like, What can I do? How do I stop this? I’m terrified.”
What she really wants to do next: “[I’d study] law or something, not to practice, just to be able to read my own contracts,” she says. And certainly camera work: “I’ve become obsessed with cinematography because of Euphoria. I definitely want to learn more about that,” she says. And possibly fresh ink: “I love tattoos. But I don’t want any,” Zendaya says. After a beat, she offers one exception. “Hunter and I want to get ‘rules’ tattooed on our [inner] lip. So we might do that.”
I like the moment where she talks about pay equity and admits that she doesn’t know enough about the issue to really discuss it. That wasn’t a demure from a seasoned actress trying to avoid saying something which would get her labeled “difficult” by the men in charge. That was Zendaya saying she truly didn’t know enough about the issue and she didn’t want to speak about it until she had more info. I was a lot older than her when I realized that was an option, you know? You don’t have to bluff your way through conversations, and there’s strength in saying “I really don’t know enough about it.” As for what she says about the men and boys killed by the police… we don’t talk enough about the collective trauma the African-American community has dealt with for decades and centuries. People are truly living with PTSD because of the racist, white supremacist structures in American society.
Photos courtesy of Allure.
Paul McCartney gave a fortune to his old school, the Liverpool Institute. Part of the deal is, every student studying music or the arts must take business classes — for that very reason.
To be able to understand the basics of a contract/deal.
Very wise, Because when you’re a student that’s the last thing you want to think about. And while it’s not the same as law school — it gives you the basics you need not to get screwed. And also how to look for the right reps to handle your deals. Cause the wrong agent or lawyer is as bad as a bad contract.
Good for her.
That’s awesome, and so smart.
Zendaya really is an impressive young woman too. She’s smarter and more adept at all of this than people 2 or 3 times her age!
Good for her! Zendaya seems to have come out of the Disney child tv star machine…relatively unscathed. She comes off as a thoughtful, down to earth person that would be easy to chill with. Kudos to her parents.
Who is Hunter?
I love her, love her, love her.
It’s a good idea. Chris Jasper of the Isley Brothers earned a law degree in order to protect himself in the music business. He was with the Isleys during that very fruitful period in the 70s and early 80s. Most of the Isley Brothers songs that get sampled by rappers are songs that Jasper wrote, produced, and arranged (he went to Juilliard for piano). It’s not enough to trust others to protect you because there are a lot of crooks out there. I hope Zendaya follows through on the law school plan. I’m sure it will be worth it.
I really walk away liking Zendaya more and more with every interview she does. I know I am not her demo, but I would put money into whatever she is doing so she can stay around for the young people, ya know what I mean?
And YES on the coming of age stories with black leads. We recently had the film Dope and then….. yeahhhhhh.
Oh, Spider Man Into the Spiderverse was the bees knees let me tell ya.
This list is smaller than small.
Into the Spiderverse was the best! Loved it and loved Miles Morales!
These photos are incredible!!
Agreed, she’s stunning, but the styling is also so much fun
She is. Love the eyeshadow.
Law school gives you all the foundational knowledge for a broad career. She won’t come out of a law degree with expert practical contract knowledge or drafting skills. For that you need practical experience; hence you get job ads stating, “Excellent drafting skills.” She should just take a focused course(s) in contracts and then read/review hundreds or thousands of real-life contracts with a legal tutor for the practie. Otherwise it’s a waste of time. (I am a lawyer.)
She talks about studying law like it’s a hobby or something you do in-between shooting films. Major eyeroll.
Love her! I hope she continues to become a major a list actor. It’s amazing how she was able to get this far with little assistance.