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Zendaya
Zendaya at the Hollywood Premiere of Disney Channel's Let It Shine on June 5, 2012
Background information
Birth name	Zendaya Coleman
Born	(1996-09-01) September 1, 1996 (age 16) Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres	Children's, pop rock[1]
Occupations	Actress, singer, dancer
Instruments	Vocals, piano
Years active	2009–present
Labels	Walt Disney, Hollywood (2012–present)
Associated acts	Bella Thorne
Website	www.zendaya.com

Zendaya Coleman (born September 1, 1996), known mononymously as Zendaya, is an American actress, singer and dancer. As of 2013^[update] she stars on the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up as Rocky Blue.

She has starred in two films and played one of the lead roles in the film Frenemies as Halley Brandon. She voiced Fern in the Pixie Hollow Games. She appeared in Good Luck Charlie as Rocky Blue and in a Good Luck Charlie and Shake It Up crossover title Charlie Shake It Up. She appeared on PrankStars as herself in the episode "Walk The Prank" and on A.N.T. Farm as Sequoia Jones in the episode "Creative ConsultANT."

Zendaya is also a musician. She signed a deal with Hollywood Records on August 8, 2012 and started recording songs for her debut album on August 12, 2012. She released a single from an independent label called "Swag It Out" and another single with Bella Thorne called "Watch Me," which is featured on the Break It Down album.

On March 20, 2012, Zendaya and Bella Thorne released an album together called Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance, each have their own song on it, along with a mash-up of both songs together as one. On August 21, 2012, Zendaya and Bella Thorne released an EP called Shake It Up: Made In Japan. Zendaya has a Christmas song called "Shake Santa Shake," which is on the Disney Channel Holiday Playlist CD, which was released on October 2, 2012. On March 5, 2013 the third Shake It Up soundtrack was released, entitled I <3 Dance; on it, Zendaya has two songs with Bella - "Contagious Love" and "This Is My Dance Floor" - as well as one solo song, "Beat of My Drum."

Early life

Zendaya was born on September 1, 1996 in Oakland, California to Kazembe Ajamu Coleman and Claire Stoermer. Zendaya grew as a part of the nearby California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda where her mother works as the house manager in addition to training at the theater's student conservatory program. Zendaya has performed in numerous stage productions. Zendaya also helped her mother seat patrons and sell raffle tickets to benefit the theater.

While she was attending Oakland School for the Arts she starred as Little Ti Moune in Once on This Island at the Berkley Playhouse and the breakout role of the male character Joe in Caroline, or Change at Palo Alto's TheaterWorks. Zendaya also studied her craft at the CalShakes Conservatory Program and at the American Conservatory Theater. Her other stage credits include Richard III, Twelfth Night, and As You Like It.

Zendaya has stated that her name means to give thanks in Shona (A Bantu language native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe). She also spent three years dancing with her former dance group called Future Shock Oakland. They danced such dances as Hip Hop and Hula.^[2]

Career

2008–2009: Career beginnings

Zendaya began her professional career working as a fashion model for Macy's, Mervyns and Old Navy. She was featured in an iCarly toys ad along with Stefanie Scott.^[3] She also appeared as a back-up dancer in a Sears commercial featuring Disney Channel star Selena Gomez.

In 2009, she was a featured performer in the Kidz Bop music video for its cover of the song "Hot n Cold" by Katy Perry which was released on Kidz Bop 15.^[3][4]

In 2009, Zendaya did a cover of the Katy Perry song "Hot n Cold" on Kidz Bop. Zendaya auditioned in November 2009 for the role CeCe Jones to join the cast of Dance Dance Chicago (later changed to Shake It Up!). Then she was asked to read the script for Rocky Blue. Then she auditioned for it because she can relate to Rocky.

Shake It Up is about two girls who live their dreams as dancers and try to become superstars.^[5] For her audition she performed Michael Jackson's "Leave Me Alone."

Zendaya had a theater background prior her casting.^[6] She was discovered by the same agent who discovered Miley Cyrus. Zendaya was picked out of 200 other girls who auditioned for Rocky Blue.

2010–present: Shake It Up, Dancing with the Stars and music

For the Disney Channel, Zendaya, Bella Thorne, and the cast hosted Shake It Up New Years on December 31, 2010.^[7]

Zendaya at Make Your Mark in July 2011

Zendaya's first single was called "Swag It Out". "Swag It Out" was composed by Bobby Brackins and produced by Glenn A. Foster.^[8] She also starred in the book trailer for "From Bad To Cursed" by Katie Alender.^[9] Zendaya and the cast of Shake It Up appeared on Good Morning America to talk about their show.

Zendaya's second single, "Watch Me," which features Bella Thorne, was released on June 21, 2011. It was produced by Ben Charles, Aaron Harmon and Jim Wes. The song peaked at #63 on the Billboard Hot Digital songs, at #86 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #9 on USA Top Heatseekers. The second season of Shake It Up was announced on March 16, 2011 and premiered on September 18, 2011. On June 5, 2011, Shake It Up had a crossover episode with Good Luck Charlie, in which Zendaya played Rocky Blue. On September 29, Disney ordered 26 more episodes of Shake It Up. Zendaya and Bella Thorne hosted Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off 2011. In October 28, 2011, Zendaya released her first promotional single "Dig Down Deeper".

Her first movie role was in the 2012 film, Frenemies along with Bella Thorne and Stefanie Scott from A.N.T. Farm.^[3][6][10] Zendaya and Bella Thorne visited Good Morning America to talk about their movie. On February 29, 2012, "Something to Dance For" was released as a single for Live 2 Dance. On June 4, 2012, Season 3 of Shake It Up was announced. On the Made In Japan (soundtrack), Zendaya and Bella Thorme have three songs together: "Made In Japan," "Same Heart", and "Fashion In Krytonite". In 2012 she released "Fashion Is My Kryptonite" on iTunes. Zendaya is signed to Hollywood Records.^[11] On September 2, 2012 it was announced that Zendaya will be on Disney Channel Holiday Playlist singing "Shake Santa Shake". Zendaya will perform at the Teen Music along with Bella Thorne, Ryan Beatty, Jasmine V, and new band IM5. Zendaya also performed at the Operation Smile benefit^[12] along with Big Time Rush and more.

Zendaya was nominated and is a contestant on season 16 of Dancing With the Stars.^[13] She beat out Shawn Johnson as the youngest contestant to ever be on the show. She had her first dance with Val Chmerkovskiy on March 18, 2013 to Contemporary, and got a score of 24. She scored a 26 on March 25, 2013 with the Jive, totaling her score to 50, the highest, keeping Val and her safe from elimination on March 26, 2013.

Personal life

Zendaya spent three years of dancing in a dance group called Future Shock Oakland. The group did hip hop and hula dances when she was eight.^[14] Zendaya currently lives in Los Angeles with her family and dog, a Giant Schnauzer named Midnight.^[3] Her interests include singing, dancing and designing clothes.^[3] In October 2010, Zendaya told Variety, "I love singing and would love to record an album at some point".^[6]

Dancing with the Stars performances

Zendaya's Partner is Valentin Chmerkovskiy.

Filmography

Film

Television

Discography

Soundtrack albums

• Shake It Up: Break It Down (2011)
• Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance (2012)
• Shake It Up: I <3 Dance (2013)

Tours

• Swag It Out Tour (2012—13)

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Zendaya

• Official website
• Zendaya at the Internet Movie Database