Zendaya Opens Up About Being A Role Model; Relates To Miley Cyrus
Current Disney darling Zendaya may be known for her classy remarks on body image issues and her spotless reputation, but that doesn't mean that she can't relate to Disney graduate Miley Cyrus, who went from goody-two-shoes Hannah Montana to twerking onstage in what seemed like the blink of an eye.
"A lot of them were forced into being role models and they had to pretend to be something that they didn't feel matched up with who they were," the 19-year-old "K.C. Undercover" actress said in the cover story for Complex's Women of Next Year 2016 issue. And that's because they entered the spotlight when they were very young, she explained, adding: "So you've got to realize when you're really young you don't know who you are yet. And as soon as you figure it out, you've already been forced to become something that you didn't really know you signed up for."
Zendaya gets it. Being a Disney Channel star herself and getting into the business in her early teens, the actress said that she understands that there's a lot of pressure. She went on: "Everyone has their different ways of learning and growing and finding out who they are, and you can't fault people for that."
Having said that, the actress said that people shouldn't expect her to start acting like a role model like some of her fellow teen actors have. "I think it's a responsibility," she said, "but like Tupac Shakur, I'm a real model." Zendaya vowed that she's not about to have her own "Miley moment," explaining that she's just keeping it real. "I'm a good kid and that's all," she told the magazine.
At her young age, Zendaya has a depth of understanding that she attributes to growing up in a mixed-race family and having an awareness of her roots. The actress/singer said that she went to both predominantly white and predominantly black schools, and that the experiences she had in each made her realize that she could adapt to any situation and scenario. She also credited her parents for taking the time to teach her about their two races, which enabled her to be comfortable with being biracial and empowered her to learn about and speak on racial issues.
As for her career goals? "Oprah plus Beyoncé plus Shonda Rhimes," she said.
