Zendaya

"Growing up, I was a sports girl. My mom is 6'4, so we always thought that the WMBA was going to be my path. But then I decided that I wanted to pursue acting. I grew up around the California Shakespeare Theater, and that's where I realized that my true love was in the performing arts."

"We make memories every day and everywhere we go, it's just shenanigans. Something always happens. I think the secret to a really great friendship is just creating fun memories whenever you're with that person. Bella is a surprise every day. That's the best part of our friendship. She's very bubbly and bright, and I'm more mellow, so we are kind of like our characters in a sense. We fit together so well because whatever I lack she has and whatever she lacks I have."

"The reason why I chose not to do the Aaliyah movie had nothing to do with the haters or people telling me that I couldn't do it, I wasn't talented enough, or I wasn't black enough. It had absolutely nothing to do with that. The main reasons were that the production value wasn't there, there were complications with the music rights, and I just felt like it wasn't being handled delicately considering the situation."

"You can go about it as cultural appreciation or cultural appropriation. You have to be very careful. Some things are really sacred and important to other cultures, so you have to be aware, politically, about those things before you just adopt them."

"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."

"Covergirl celebrates powerful, beautiful, and strong women of different races and ethnicities. It’s inspiring. I’m thrilled to be part of the diversity and expansion of beauty."

"Some would say the mullet didn't work out. But to me, they were talking about it, so I'd say it worked out. I think we can't allow ourselves to get caught up in other people's opinions of ourselves because then we're never going to progress, we're never going to go forward. So we've got to be real. We've got to do what we want to do even if people don't like it. The greatest of the greats wouldn't be the greatest of the greats if they didn't try stuff, you know what I mean? So, no, I don't regret anything. I'm very happy with all of the choices we have made."

"My main reason for being a vegetarian is that I’m an animal lover — definitely NOT because I love vegetables. I thought it was awful, all those animals getting packed up in there waiting to be killed. I couldn’t believe that’s how I’d been getting my meat! I had this crazy dream about raining hamburgers. You know that book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? It was like that, with giant food falling out of the sky. And I still remember the dream so clearly."

"There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair. My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of color that our hair is good enough. To me locs are a symbol of beauty and strength, almost like a lion’s mane."

"I always hide my face when I cry. I would cover up my whole performance with my hands if I let myself. Rue has such a darkness to her, but also an innocence. I have to be super vulnerable and sad in front of people. It’s weird, but cathartic in a lot of ways."

"I was a huge fan of That's So Raven as a kid. I don’t know—maybe I was destined to be on Disney Channel. But I did love me some Disney Channel!"

"I do want to dress up. I still want to have the experience. It’ll be probably just my family over here, but I definitely want to pull a look and maybe just walk my living room carpet."

"I know this feels like a really weird time to be celebrating. But I just want to say there is hope in the young people out there - I know that our TV show doesn't always feel like a great example of that - but there is hope in our young people and I just want to say to all my peers out there doing the work in the streets, 'I see you, I admire you, I thank you."

"Swag it out I'm gonna, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out I'm gonna I, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out I'm gonna I, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out I'm gonna I, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out I'm gonna I, I'm gonna g-g-g-gonna swag it out"

"Light up the floor! Play me one more Let me hear that Click clack on the high high let the base vibrate Feel the room rock Light up the floor! Just like before Let me hear that Base-drop from the boombox, make your heart stop! Feel the room rock"

"A dream like this not something you wish for A dream like this not something you ask for When it's a gift worth taking a chance for Then this is something you dance for"

"Yeah Wanna put this song on replay I can listen to it all day I can listen to you all day Hear you all day Yeah Wanna put this song on replay We can start all over again And again Yeah Wanna put this song on re"

"Oh, when danger comes to you You know I'll stand beside ya 'Cause ain't nobody keeping it so cool I always find a way A way out of the fire But don't tell nobody Tell nobody I'm not perfect So many things Wanna tell you But I (I keep it undercover) Livin' my life on red alert Doin' my thing, gon' make it work Know I'm the realest Baby, I'm fearless But I always got your back Nobody can do it like I can I gotta find out who I am Ain't gonna worry about me It's all part of the plan"

"No one can rewrite the stars How can you say you'll be mine? Everything keeps us apart And I'm not the one you were meant to find It's not up to you It's not up to me When everyone tells us what we can be How can we rewrite the stars? Say that the world can be ours Tonight"

"Too much in my system Money MIA Mama making ends meet Working like a slave Daddy ain't at home, no Gotta be a man Do it for my homegrowns Do it for the fam Ay Just for your love, yeah, I'll Give you the world Mona Lisa's smile Hey Hell, I'll do twenty-five to life If it makes me your king A star in your eyes"

"Zendaya is more high-fashion. The hair to me on her is making her a little more boho. Like I feel like she smells like patchouli oil. Or weed."

"Zendaya has certainly faced harsh judgement for her envelope-pushing hairstyles. Remember her Grammy Awards mullet? Or her faux locs from last year's Oscars? But that hasn't stopped the young star from doing whatever she feels."

"Zendaya is exceptional at every turn. She adds heartbreaking levity to moments when her spiraling teenager feels invincible instead of fragile, and the way she carries herself, narrates each story, and generally handles the weight of leading a series are all as endearing as they are commanding."

"I've actually met her before and she was sweet to me, I've only heard nice things about her, and she's awesome."