Zendayais undoubtedly the multi-talented megastar who has taken Hollywood by storm with her talent and versatility across various mediums – from acting and modeling to singing and even dancing. However, it seems that her foray intothe world of reality TVover a decade ago has left a lasting imprint on her, one that she’s still harboring a “little animosity” over to this day.
Back in 2013, Zendaya graced the ballroom on the 16th season ofDancing With the Starsand dazzled audiences with her dancing prowess. Paired with professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, she delivered a series of outstanding performances. The duo’s chemistry took them all the way to the two-night finale, where they showcased a range of dance styles from samba to freestyle and the jive. However, the results did not favor Zendaya and Val, who ended up in second place, with the victory going toAmerican Idolalum Kellie Pickler and her partner Derek Hough.
In a recent cover story forW Magazine, Zendaya reflected on her experiences. When the interviewer claimed she “should have won,” theEuphoriastar admitted that at 16, she could have taken the competition less seriously and enjoyed her time on the show more.
“Listen, I’m still harboring a little animosity about that. I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful. Being on live television every week? It’s so scary. I took it very seriously, which, in retrospect, I wish I didn’t. I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that.”
Zendaya Doesn’t Keep Up With ‘DWTS’ Anymore But Loves Another Reality Show
Reality TV has long been a guilty pleasure for many because it offers an escape into the lives of others and the drama that ensues. For Zendaya, however,Dancing With the Starswas never her go-to show. Her mother was an avid fan, and the actress, who didn’t watch the show until she was a part of it, believed she was not “the target demographic.” When asked by W Magazine if she keeps up with reality TV nowadays, she revealed a surprising favorite:Love Is Blind. She confessed:
“I do. I love, unfortunately, Love Is Blind, and then I feel bad for watching it. So it’s a guilty pleasure, I suppose. It’s brutal. I’m like, ‘Dang, you guys know you’re on camera?’”
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For anyone looking for their next guilty pleasure watch, these are the best options currently airing in 2024.
As Zendaya continues to add more titles to her impressive filmography, fans eagerly anticipate her future projects. With the final installment ofDuneestimated to arrive in 2026, as well as the highly anticipated third season ofEuphoria,Zendaya’s star power is still steadily on the rise.
