Photo credit: Mario Testino/Vogue
Black girl magic alert! 20-year-old actress and activist Zendaya Coleman just snagged her first cover of “Vogue” Magazine.
“I really don’t have any words right now…I’m grateful, honored and a million other beautiful things that wouldn’t fit in a caption,” wrote the Disney star on Instagram. “I’M ON VOGUE Y’ALL!!!!”
From defending the beauty and value of Black hair (which happened after a “Fashion Police” host made racially offensive comments about her loc hairstyle at the 2015 Oscars), to getting her own Oscar-inspired Barbie doll as a result, to speaking out about social justice issues, to offering a modeling job to a young lady who was being body-shamed on social media, Zendaya has continuously used her platform to champion activism, self-love and positive body image.
In Vogue’s July 2017 issue, Zendaya, who was called a role model by Michelle Obama herself, discusses Disney Channel, first love, having power, and her film debut in “Spider-Man: Homecoming”. When reflecting on a meeting with Disney executives, where she fought for title the “K.C. Undercover”, a show she stars in and co-produces, Zendaya said:
“A lot of people don’t realize their power. I have so many friends who say yes to everything or feel like they can’t stand up for themselves in a situation.’ “No: You have the power.”
Congratulations, Zendaya! Thank you for using your voice and platform to inspire and empower young people everywhere.
Read Zendaya’s full Vogue cover story here.