Zendaya is everything I want to be when I grow up: she has a successful career, is a socially conscious activist, and is one of the most stylish celebs out there. And I didn’t think she could be any more inspiring—until right now.
In an interview with Marie Claire, Zendaya revealed that she chooses to audition for a variety of roles, even if they are intended to be for white girls. “I always tell my theatrical manager, ‘Anytime it says they’re looking for white girls, send me out. Let me get in the room. Maybe they’ll change their minds,'” she told the magazine. “And, honestly, if there’s a part that I didn’t get or that I really wanted at the time, shit always ends up working out.”
Thank you @marieclairemag for having me on your September cover, and thank you to the absolutely brilliant @janetmock for this interview, you continue to inspire me pic.twitter.com/lPPjOc6nLj
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) August 6, 2018
One of those roles in particular was that of Michelle Jones, aka MJ, in 2017’s hit, Spider-Man: Homecoming. Zendaya went into the audition, hopeful that the creative team would be open to having a more diverse character in the film. “I remember making the decision to straighten my hair,” she said. “I didn’t know that they were going to be more diverse in their casting. I didn’t know that I was walking into a situation where they were already breaking the rules. You get so used to having to break the rules for people.”
Zendaya is not planning on slowing down any time soon. Her latest film, Smallfoot, will be released in September and she is currently filming the next installment in the Spider-Man franchise, Spider-Man: Far From Home. She is also set to begin work on a new HBO drama, Euphoria, with Drake serving as executive producer.
Zendaya is an incredible role model and an inspiration to us all. I am excited to see what else she accomplishes!