This is the role that changed everything. As Rue Bennett, a teen navigating addiction, trauma, and mental illness, Zendaya delivers a performance so raw and real it earned her two Emmys—and changed how young Black women are seen on screen. Rue isn’t tidy or trope-y. She’s messy, aching, and deeply human. And Zendaya never flinches in portraying her.

Before the high drama of HBO, Zendaya got her start as Rocky Blue on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up. She danced, she sang, she stole every scene. It was clear even then that she wasn’t just another child star. She had presence—and a spark that felt different.

In this black-and-white relationship drama, Zendaya co-starred opposite John David Washington and showed critics that she could hold a 90-minute film with nothing but dialogue and facial expressions. Her performance as Marie was layered, bitter, poetic—and totally magnetic.

Though her role in the first Dune film was brief, it set up her reign in the franchise. As Chani in Dune: Part Two, Zendaya showed she could hold her own in an epic. Her intensity, physicality, and quiet strength added a new dimension to the already rich world of Arrakis—and proved she’s blockbuster material.

Zendaya quite literally flew through this movie—playing a trapeze artist opposite Zac Efron in a musical that mixed circus magic with romance and show-stopping songs. Her duet “Rewrite the Stars” became a fan-favorite, and her graceful stunt work was proof she could do it all.

Let’s talk fashion. When Zendaya showed up to the Met Gala dressed as a glowing Cinderella, complete with fairy god-stylist Law Roach waving a wand to light up her dress, it was clear: the red carpet was her playground. And we’ve been tuned in ever since.

Wearing a vintage Versace dress inspired by Beyoncé’s legendary 2003 BET Awards look, Zendaya didn’t just serve style—she served reverence. It was a full-circle moment that honored legacy while making her own.

Zendaya and her longtime stylist Law Roach have become one of the most influential fashion duos of the last decade. From archival Mugler to sculptural Loewe to effortless streetwear, Zendaya’s style has range—and it tells a story. Every. Single. Time.

Zendaya doesn’t say much on social media. She’s not overexposed. But when she does speak—whether it's in a Vanity Fair interview or in her carefully chosen roles—it matters. She moves with intention. She chooses art over hype. And in doing so, she’s become both muse and mogul.

Zendaya’s Best Actress nomination at the 2025 BET Awards is not just about one performance—it’s about a career defined by precision, power, and the refusal to be boxed in. Whether she’s in sneakers or stilettos, a hoodie or haute couture, Zendaya always understands the assignment.

Don’t miss Zendaya—and the full lineup of cultural icons—at the BET Awards 2025, airing live Monday, June 9 at 8PM ET/PT on BET.