Zendaya

Don't try so hard to fit in, and certainly don't try so hard to be different just try hard to be you.

Zendaya

Birth Infomation

Birth date
September 1, 1996

Birth place
Oakland, California, USA

Residence
Los Angeles, California, USA

Age
23

Ethnicity
American-German-Scottish-African (Zimbabwean)

Occupation
* Actress
* Singer
* Dancer
* Model

Years active
2009 - present

Nicknames
Z, Zen, Boo, Day-Day, Daya, Rocky

* Red (currently)

Signature

Zendaya's signature

**Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman** is an American singer, actor, dancer, model and a philanthropist.

Biography
Coleman was born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, the only child of Claire Marie (Stoermer) and Kazembe Ajamu (born Samuel David Coleman). She has five older half-siblings on her father's side. Her father is African-American, with roots in Arkansas, while her mother has German and Scottish ancestry. Zendaya, whose name derives from the Shona name *Tendai*, meaning "to give thanks", grew as a performer in part at the nearby California Shakespeare Theater in Orinda, California, where her mother works as the house manager. She also trained at the theater's student conservatory program. She appeared in numerous stage productions while she was attending Oakland School for the Arts, starring as Little Ti Moune in *Once on This Island* at the Berkeley Playhouse and the breakout role of the male character Joe in *Caroline, or Change* at Palo Alto's TheaterWorks.
At the age of eight, Zendaya joined a dance group called Future Shock Oakland which focused on hip-hop and hula dances, and was a member for three years.

* Zendaya being an inspiration to a kid on Shake It Up - Glitz It Up.
* Zendaya in a yellow dress.
* Zendaya saying 'Hey' during a photo shoot.
* Zendaya (as Rocky Blue) being an 'angel' model.
* Zendaya dancing as Rocky Blue.
* Zendaya doing her 'Z' sign.
* Zendaya singing.
1/12
She studied at the CalShakes Conservatory Program and the American Conservatory Theater. Her other stage credits include William Shakespeare's *Richard III*, *Twelfth Night*, and *As You Like It*.

Career
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. She also appeared as a back-up dancer in a Sears commercial, featuring Disney actress Selena Gomez. In 2009, she was a featured performer in the Kidz Bop music video for its cover of the song "Hot n Cold", which was released on *Kidz Bop 15*. She auditioned in November 2009 for the role of CeCe Jones to join the cast of *Dance Dance Chicago*, later changed to *Shake It Up!*, but was selected as Rocky Blue instead. For her audition, she performed Michael Jackson's "Leave Me Alone".  *Shake It Up* premiered on November 7, 2010, and it was watched by 6.2 million viewers, becoming Disney Channel's second highest-rated premiere in Disney Channel's 27-year history. In 2011 Zendaya released "Swag It Out", a promotional independent single. The song was composed by Bobby Brackins and produced by Glenn A. Foster. She also starred in the book trailer for "From Bad To Cursed" by Katie Alender. In the same year, she released "Watch Me," featuring Bella Thorne, on June 21. The song peaked at 86 on the Billboard Hot 100. 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*. Zendaya hosted *Make Your Mark: Ultimate Dance Off 2011*.

Name Meaning
Her name means 'to give thanks' in Shona. Her name was originally supposed to be 'Chendeya' or something similar to that. But since her father loved the the letter 'Z', he added 'Zen' for an effect. And Zendaya in her following words was cool.

Trivia* She can play the piano.
* Her interest include singing, dancing and designing.
* She is best friends with Bella Thorne and Caroline Sunshine.
* She is a role model to most teens and kids.
* She loves Mexican food.
* His 'manager of his life' or 'brother' is Darnell Appling.
* She once a video with 'Vogue' and Darnell and Noon were included.
* Her website is zendaya.com.
* Her Twitter page is @Zendaya.
* ***TBA***