ZENDAYA

Multi-talented actress and Hollywood Records Platinum-Selling Artist, Zendaya, recently released her self-titled 2013 debut full-length album where she delivers soulful pop with an urban edge. Her first single included in the album, “Replay” was certified platinum for selling 1,000,000 copies in the U.S. this January, and now has over 44 million views on VEVO.

Most recently, Disney announced that Zendaya will star and co-produce in a topline Disney channel spy pilot. Zendaya will also star in the Disney Channel Original Movie, “Zapped” which premieres this summer.

Zendaya starred as Raquel “Rocky” Blue, one half of the comedic duo of young dancers trying to dance her way to stardom, in the hit Disney Channel series “Shake It Up!” She also starred in “Shake It Up: Made In Japan,” the record breaking 90-minute song and dance–filled special which featured Zendaya’s single and video “Fashion is my Kryptonite.” Zendaya was also the break out star and runner-up on Season 16 of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars.

Zendaya has performed around the world, including the White House and in the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as performing on numerous talk shows such as Ellen, the Today show, Extra and BET’s 106 & Park.  She also previously toured select cities with her Z-Swagg Dancers and is featured on numerous soundtracks including Shake It Up: Break It Down, Shake It Up: Live 2 Dance and Shake It Up: I <3 Dance.

Zendaya released her first advice book entitled Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence last summer. In the book, Zendaya shares frank and fun advice for navigating the tween years with all the tools needed to be happy and healthy. The book was co-written with Sheryl Berk, who has collaborated with dozens of celebrities on their memoirs. 

Zendaya lends her voice to the character “Fern” in Disney Channel’s Animated Special “Pixie Hollow Games,” which is part of the hugely successful Disney Fairies franchise. She also performs the special’s theme song, “Dig Down Deeper.” Zendaya also starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie “Frenemies.”

Zendaya was born in Oakland, California where she quickly was introduced into the entertainment world, modeling for Macy’s, Mervyns and Old Navy. She then attended the Oakland School for the Arts and it was here that she developed a passion for acting. She continued to study her craft at the CalShakes Conservatory program and at the American Conservatory Theater. Zendaya also spent three years dancing with Future Shock Oakland, a hip hop dance troupe, and two years dancing hula with AHA, The Academy of Hawaiian Arts.

Zendaya, which means “to give thanks” in Shona (a Bantu language native to the Shona people of Zimbabwe), now resides in Los Angeles, California with her family and dog, a Giant Schnauzer named Midnight. Zendaya continues to keep up her social influence with over 5 million followers on Facebook, over 4 million followers on Twitter and over 2.9 million followers on Instagram.