Whether you know her as MJ from the Spider-Man films or for her turn as Rue Bennett in Euphoria, there is no doubt that Zendaya is the actress of the moment and as her latest cover shoot for Vogue Italia shows she definitely knows how to work the camera.
Not only are the photos from the shoot evidence of this, but Zendaya’s long term stylist Law Roach shared a video from behind the scenes showing the superstar working her magic.
In her Zendaya talks about the pressures of fame, though as she mentions she’s had time to get used to it. “I've been doing this for a long time, and I started when I was quite young. So thankfully I’ve had a little bit of time to ease and grow my experience in a way that wasn't just completely an overnight change,” she says.
Zendaya is acutely aware of how she is following in the footsteps of the many generations of Black actresses who came before her. “I feel incredibly grateful to be in this position because, without the women of the past, especially iconic Black women who have done what I've done before, I wouldn't be able to exist in this space. So with every new accomplishment, with every new thing I learn, I hope that I can be a part of paying that forward and hopefully it'll be easier for the next person,” she told the magazine.
The actress has always been vocal about the role she plays in Hollywood. Back in 2018 about how she’s the “acceptable version of a Black girl,” calling out colourism and how that plays into Hollywood’s version of what is acceptable and what is not.
“As a light-skinned Black woman it's important that I'm using my privilege, my platform, to show you how much beauty there is in the African-American community,” she went on to say.
But that wasn’t the first time Zendaya had spoken out about race. In 2016 Cosmopolitan magazine about her privilege when it came to the colour of her skin.
“Unfortunately, I have a bit of a privilege compared to my darker sisters and brothers,” she said. “Can I honestly say that I’ve had to face the same racism and struggles as a woman with darker skin? No, I cannot. I have not walked in her shoes and that is unfair of me to say.”
The pressure of being a young Black actress in Hollywood hangs heavily on Zendaya’s shoulders and it’s something she’s well aware of. As she mentioned in a round table discussion - “I have a heavy responsibility on my shoulders, but I’m appreciative… because with that there’s a lot of good that I can do and I know who is watching.”
“Now more than ever, specifically with Black Lives Matter and everything, I feel an obligation to make sure that I’m aware and putting out the right things and in line with organizers and people who are on the ground,” she went on to say.
And while Zendaya has been open about speaking on matters such as race, she has remained fairly private about her relationship with her Spider-Man co-star Tom Holland. That is except for a recent photo that she posted on her Instagram wishing Holland a happy birthday.
Last year Holland about how he wanted to keep his relationship with Zendaya private. "One of the downsides of our fame is that privacy isn't really in our control anymore, and a moment that you think is between two people that love each other very much is now a moment that is shared with the entire world."
He went on to add: "This isn't my story. It's our story. And we'll talk about what it is when we're ready to talk about it together."
Meanwhile Holland is being the perfectly supportive boyfriend in response to cover, leaving the star a cute comment on her Instagram.
As for Zendaya, last year "there's so much I want to do" beyond acting, including her ambitions to become a director. “If I ever do become a filmmaker, I know that the leads of my films will always be Black women,” she said.
We for one are looking forward to seeing what's next for this talented star.
