19-year-old Zendaya Coleman has gone from young Disney star to incomparable triple threat to one of the next generation’s strongest most confident voices.
The teen stunner graces COMPLEX’s latest cover dressed in all black leather everything and sporting carefree kinky tresses amongst a slew of plastic mannequins. The concept couldn’t be more fitting, as Zendaya is known for going against the grain of all things cookie cutter and inauthentic.
Staff Writer Kristen Kim visited Zendaya’s family home in LA and the two discussed everything from her upbringing to new music to speaking out against cultural appropriation.
When asked if she thinks about being a role model to her fans, she tells COMPLEX, “Of course. I think it’s a responsibility. But like Tupac Shakur, I’m a real model. Which means: I’m not pretending to be something that I’m not, because like he said, people are going to be disappointed when they find out who you are, because it’s not going to be what you presented to the world. So just keep it real. I’m a good kid and that’s all.”
View the entire photo spread here.