Zendaya's full of surprises

In Dubai for the final week of the Summer Surprises festival, Disney star Zendaya talks about being a TV producer at 18 and remaining a 'real-model'.

What were you up to when you were 18? Chances are you were getting ready to start college, enter the job market fulltime or, as is increasingly popular, take a year out to explore the world, your personality or both.
Whatever the case it is doubtful that cameras were trailing your every move, nor were you part responsible for a show being aired to a potential global audience of millions on the Disney channel.
Musician, author, fashion designer and television star Zendaya may turn 19 tomorrow, but has had to shoulder a lot of responsibility since entering the public eye aged 14 as the co-lead on kids' sitcom Shake It Up. Billboard Top 100 hits, a teen advice book and a fashion line followed, making Zendaya one of the most talked about young performers in the US.
With such intense attention it is easy for an inexperienced star to falter; either a rebellious streak presents itself or a naive comment here or there can cause uproar.
However, Zendaya credits her teacher parents (who, along with her brother, travelled as a family to Dubai on Saturday) for putting an emphasis on education and allowing her persona to flourish organically rather than forcibly conform to a squeaky-clean image - a ploy Zendaya says is always doomed to fail.
"There would be more pressure if I wasn't a good kid," Zendaya began during our Palace Hotel Downtown Dubai meeting yesterday. "If I were battling a lot of things; and in the public eye, then obviously it's going to be harder. You'd be pretending to be a role model. I like what Tupac Shakur said, 'be a real-model.' That's someone who's not pretending. If you're not real, as soon as you fall off and people realise you were pretending to be something you're not, they're going to turn against you."
The topic of her maturity arose on account of two high-profile instances where Zendaya made a very public stand against comments directed towards her and her family. The first was the much-discussed derogatory statement about her hair at an award show in February and the second occurred just a few days ago, as abuse was rampant on Twitter regarding a picture she posted on the social media platform. After both disgraceful episodes Zendaya released eloquent responses, pitying the perpetrators' lack of tact and intelligence rather than engaging in any retaliation - revenge being something we'd probably all be tempted to seek if in a similar situation.
"I've always had a knack for writing," she said. "My mum teaches fifth grade and my dad's a PE teacher, so I grew up in a classroom setting anyway.
"My parents always say, 'hey if you're not happy and you're done, then we can go back to Oakland tomorrow, you can just be a regular kid.'"
It is that grounding support which obviously plays a significant role.
"I don't like the term 'celebrity.' I'm a human being who a lot of people know. It's a good feeling to have because I don't want to get accustomed to 'that' lifestyle."
Zendaya will be in Dubai for the rest of today to celebrate a grand finale to the DSS Starz series. The show will take place at the Central Galleria - Mall of the Emirates at 5.30pm. At the concert the starlet will showcase tracks from her self-titled debut album Zendaya, as well as fan-favourites, followed by a Meet and Greet session.
"It's going to be an intimate show," she said. "I didn't travel with a huge band or dancers."
Zedaya's latest TV programme, K.C. Undercover (where the actress also has a producer credit) is yet to debut in the UAE, but looks set to in the coming months.
"I'm excited for everyone here to see it. I ran into a kid outside the hotel this morning who said they'd been watching me since they were 14. They're growing with me."
And how does she feel about the production role?
"I like being behind the scenes and taking control of that world. I don't know about directing, but being a producer is creative and people listen to your input. I'd think about doing it on other shows."
david@khaleejtimes.com