Zendaya covers the Jusly issue of Cosmopolitan looking like she’s trying to fix her shoe while showing off her incredible legs. I remember marveling at how she towered over Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet at the Grammys and it turns out she’s 5’10” tall, which is not surprising. She’s got to be over 6′ in heels. The people at Cosmo sent us some advance quotes and while I would be surprised to hear them from most other 19 year-old starlets (see: Chloe Grace Moretz), it’s typical of Zendaya to sound wise beyond her years. She emphasized that young people who are scared to see the direction of this year’s election need to actually go out and vote instead of just tweet about it. That may sound like a no-brainer, but it’s true. She also detailed an incident in which a former publicist was racially insensitive, so she sacked her. (I love that term! I never get to use that, it’s so British.)
On the election and voting: “There’s really crazy stuff happening right now, and it’s disappointing, sad, and scary. My generation, we really have to step up to the plate and vote. Tweeting is great — people say, ‘Oh, I don’t want this or that’ — but at the end of the day, tweeting isn’t a ballot. Just saying that you don’t like someone on Twitter is not going to turn a state blue or red. You have to vote.”
On her return to Disney as the star and co-producer of K.C. Undercover: “The only way I was going to come back to the Disney Channel was if I was in a position of more power. One thing that is really important to me is diversity on the channel. It’s hard as a young person of a different ethnicity or background to look at the TV and not see anyone who looks like you. Representation is very important.”
On a situation on set with someone being racially insensitive: “I didn’t like my hair and makeup one time on a photo shoot, and my publicist told me, ‘You should just be happy with it — they haven’t had a black girl on the cover since forever.’ She’s no longer my publicist.”
On being in love versus casual hookups: “Me, personally? I would much rather be in love and have the full experience with the person I’m doing that with. Everyone deserves to be in love — it’s different from when you’re with someone you don’t really know. But as long as you protect yourself and get tested periodically, then by all means, go ahead and do what you’ve got to do!”
I like how she was diplomatic about her own dating preferences vs. people who like casual sex. She doesn’t sound judgy. I mean she gets her dad to chaperone dates, which seems a little excessive at 19 but maybe that’s her choice too. Given how self-possessed she is, it seems likely that she would have a say in that.
Also, is she dissing the Disney channel or just television in general for not being more representative of society? I would say she’s talking about TV as a whole, because the Disney channel seems like it’s somewhat diverse already. I bet Zendaya has helped make changes there.
photos credit: WENN and Cosmopolitan
I’m sorry but the cover shot is dumb for such a beautiful girl lol. Other than that Zendaya is such a great interview. Hope she becomes a powerhouse in her own right w/o Disney. 😊
And I feel her on the election issue. It’s my friends and I’s first election that we get to vote in, and for some of them you would think they couldn’t vote they’re so uninterested/Twitter voting only. I just wish the options were better. 😥 Does anyone think there will actually be dialogue on issues this election season, or will Trump make it more of a shouting contest?
There is dialogue happening right now.
No not really. There are insults, mud slinging and attacks on entire groups of people but no dialogue. Trump has set the tone of the campaign which is not based on dialogue – he clearly has an aversion to actually trying to discuss policy and ways to improve the country. BTW thank you RNC for both Trump & Palin my blood pressure hasn’t been the same since.
Hm. Yeah I see your point. I guess I was confusing dialogue with intelligent, non mainstream media commentary.
With Drumpf in the race it’ll always be a shouting contest. I feel for you young folks this year, having this as your first federal election experience. What a bummer.
The best advice I can give is PLEASE go vote. We need all of you millenials to get out there and help us to ensure that horrible man doesn’t become President.
……….And you really expect that Donald Trump is capable or willing to have a dialogue about issues? He is a reality tv personality and a professional swindler.
Or let me put it another way: one party’s nominee has 50 years worth of experience in public service, state and national government, national security and diplomacy.
And the other party’s nominee does not.
This is not a hard choice election tbh.
Yes, and Hillary’s been an abject lying failure at all of those things. Trump is awful too. Out of 300 million plus people, this is our choice. Unbelievable.
For young hipsters to not vote, because they don’t like the choices, would be helping Donald Trump to victory.
This will be a close election, and for young people to turn their noses up at both candidates, we all feel the pain of not having better choices, but not voting is a choice also in electing
Donald Trump.
Note to Miley Cyrus: this is how you transition from child to adult star.
No. Miley doesn’t hurt people, get arrested,etc. She acts like a fool, yes, but it only hurts her, not anyone else, unless I am terribly mistaken.
Use Lindsay as the comparison. Multiple arrests,probation issues, stealing, hitting people with her car, etc etc.
Bella Thorne needs that same note, she is on her way!
Megan and Honey are time travelers who have not yet realized that in 2016, not all women want to present themselves modestly as adults, nor should we all have to. (They’re probably still feeling a tad faint over the sex-positive stance Zendaya just expressed in this interview. You can only wonder how they’d react if they heard her equally progressive stance on the policing of female modesty that she’s expressed in other interviews. We might have to fetch the smelling salts for these ladies until Bulma fixes their time machines.) 🙂
It’s pretty low to criticise or mock young people like Miley who don’t meed your moral standards for young women – while you may considered ex-child stars privileged brats, consider the extremely adult situations they have encountered (at worst – paedophilia and molestation/rape, at best – adults around you witnessing and commenting on your changing body and giving you unwanted attention). If they make it to adulthood without hurting others, consider them a success. Lindsay’s drug addictions or alcoholism I wouldn’t hold against her (considering her horrific parents) but her hitting people with cars is definitely critique-worthy.
No need to pit these women against each other – they’re all just making their way through life the best way they can given their circumstances. As we all are.
A friend of mine who is American tells me that she is so disheartened with the election, that she’s considering voting for some guy who wears a boot as a hat and promises free ponies for everyone.
As an American I’m right there with your friend.
Yeah me too. It’s a truly terrible and hopeless election cycle this time around.
Oh, what’s his name? I’d go for a free pony over voting for either clown in the race right now.
Vermin. Why do I know that? Thanks Internet.
His name is ‘Vermin Supreme’, I googled him and he’s also pro mandatory toothbrushing lol
Hmm. That’s not a great name.
its better in different countries. i guess thats where the stereotype of english people being ugly comes from. if you watch US tv shows and then english ones you are at first shocked but then you realized: wait they just look like regular people.
i doubt that it will change, it will get worse probably, social media and more cosmetic surgery for men and women will only push it more. And most people just want to look at good looking people and put them on pedestals.
edit: comment i replied to was deleted.
It is different in other countries. Mainly because there are no models turned actors. You have to be a trained actor to be an actor in my country ( the academy is also state funded, so it’s more socially open than in Britain).
Zendaya does give a good interview and makes some valid points about voting. But I do have a feeling that there may be some big changes on the final matchup in the election. There was an interesting article about VP Joe Biden and how he is regretting not running for the Democratic nomination. The election is still a long way off, so things could change. Let’s face it, could anyone have guessed Donald Trump would have made it this far?
VP choices can definitely have an impact- just look at Palin. Oh crap i said her name, it’s like summoning a screeching demon of stupidity.
Zendaya really does come across well in interviews.
Just don’t say the “P” word three times. That’s when she will appear out of a cloud of sulphur, screaming about seeing Russia from her front porch.
There are lots of rumors floating around Washington that Biden is ready to jump in if Hillary gets indicted. Current boyfriend is a former NSA spook (!) and can’t stop talking about all the backroom meetings going on. It is definitely a weird election.
P.S. Zendaya looks stunning and gives a great interview.
That wouldn’t be very democratic. If she’s indicted it should be Sanders since he bothered to run – either way I’m getting the sinking feeling Trump will be POTUS.
There is a higher chance of Trump being arrested for fraud than of Hilary Clinton being up for any charges. This is the only “fair and balanced” story that the media can pick up to use against Democrats so they don’t look biased when calling out Republicans. And this is what Sanders voters are hanging on to instead of doing deep analysis of his policies which he can’t give any specifics on.
When it was Obama’s time, Democrats were freaking out about the false charges of the birther conspiracy. The media also rode along with it and made it seem like it could legitimately stop him from winning.
Her mom definitely looks over 6 feet so it’s understandable that she would be that tall.
Thinking about the election just fills me with despair. The only candidate I believe in likely won’t garner the Democratic nomination, so I’m torn between writing them in or voting Libertarian. Either way, I feel like I’ll be throwing my vote away. It’s a shame how we all underestimated that fool Trump and now we’re getting spanked.
I’m voting Libertarian, since I am one, and Gary Johnson isn’t that bad a choice.
If ever there were an optimal time–and excellent reasons–to vote for a third party, this election is it. The R and D powers that be need a wakeup call from We, the People in the worst way.
He’s getting my vote. Could be the first Libertarian president…hm. sees drugs as health issue, not criminal issue. is pro-school vouchers. wants a smaller gvmnt. this guy is becoming more and more appealing…
Me too! There are not many of us around here:(
Im tired of seeing teens on the cover of women’s magazines meant for the more established 20s/30s ++ women crowd. Enough!
I honestly think Cosmo stopped being for women over 25 a long time ago.
Why anybody buys magazines anymore is beyond me
She’s a beautiul girl and smart, but wise beyond her years? I’m kinda tired of praising people for saying the most obvious things. You have to be a class A moron not to realise the things she’s saying here.
But lots of celebs are class A morons lol… We read about them almost every day. Nice to see a young woman who is aware and cares more about more than just makeup and boys.
Then maybe we should say she’s a wise celeb, because the majority of teenagers think like her. Or think about politics and social issues because they don’t have the safe cushion of millions to ball back on to.
She’s wiser than I was at her age. At least she’s thinking about something besides boys, clothes and hair, which is more than I can say for myself.
Locke: I don’t think the majority of teenagers think like her. Especially not celeb teenagers.
GNAT, I agree. And she’s very conscious of the image she puts out. It’s commendable.
Well, I was one up until a few years ago, and my sister is one and most of my friends and her friends do. Maybe it’s a cultural thing because politics is discussed everywhere all of the time round here, you can’t escape it.
As always a good interview, I don’t know if it’s her specifically but Disney has been making some really impressive gains in featuring talent that is multi racial. It’s been going on for a good 5 years or so so I know it’s not all her but if I’m remembering correctly her show is the only one currently on the air on Disney that features an AA family.
She’s not a talented actress though, and her show is awful. She’s beautiful but I know a lot of teens who are intelligent and insightful, at least as much as she is, but she’s not a good actress. At all.
Why does everybody feel the need to put her down? I don’t get it. She’s lovely.
I didn’t know who she was before DWTS, but I’ve grown more and more fond of her with each new thing that comes out about her.
…no dear you absolutely dont (&shouldnt) have to vote for self serving oinkers…there’s better ways to effect change for regular folks…
If you do not vote, you can’t complain about the outcome.
Wow, I wish I sounded like that at 19… hell, I’m 27 and I still don’t sound like that 🙁 she is very mature.
I thought Nina Dobrev had this same “grabbing my shoe” pose on the cover of Cosmo last year….
Those eyebrows tho! A tiny bit more and they are a unibrow. Fancy.
Does Celebitchy get paid for each negative comment directed at Moretz?