Zendaya's Stunning Beauty Transformation
Zendaya has grown and evolved in the spotlight ever since her breakthrough role on Disney's "Shake it Up," where she effortlessly charmed with her natural beauty and talent at just 14 years old. The actress and singer is beloved for her easygoing attitude paired with her strong work ethic — and is also a flourishing role model for Gen Z. Known for her impressive performances in pictures like "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "Euphoria," and "Dune," the single-name star is essentially, well, a powerhouse — as well as a fashion and beauty icon.
Her beauty transformation has been both stunning and steady over the years, and whether Zendaya is sharing makeup-free selfies on Instagram or is in old Hollywood glam on the red carpet, her commanding, natural brows and luminous skin are often the stars of the show. Her secret? Simplicity. "Don't do too much, because when I start to apply too many layers of things and too many different masks and too many different things I break out or I get an eczema flare-up. So I gotta keep it simple," Zendaya said in a video interview with GQ in January 2023.
While Zendaya's career has been dynamic, her beauty metamorphosis has been smooth and graceful, always showcasing her natural features — yet still dipping into the realm of creative makeup trends. Here's a look through the beauty eras of Zendaya and some of the iconic looks fans can't get enough of.
2010-2012: Zendaya's breakthrough role showcases her natural beauty
Zendaya is one of many celebrities who had their start on the set of hit Disney shows and her time on "Shake it Up" as Rocky Blue paved the way for her blossoming career. She was only in her young teens when she emerged as a pop culture icon and even in those early days, it was apparent that Zendaya has never needed to adhere to current beauty trends, as her natural look wows on its own.
Here, the early star is seen at Disney's D23 Expo in 2011 at the Anaheim Convention Center. She wears a peach lip color, rosy blush, and lined eyes. What's particularly noticeable about this capture and the era is that brow trends of the time were extra thick and manicured with powerful, dark arches — and yet, Zendaya wears her brows in their natural shape and they aren't overly filled in. She has chosen looks that complement her natural beauty from the very start.
2013-2016: Zendaya charms in her Dancing with the Stars era
In 2013, Zendaya was a contestant on the sixteenth season of "Dancing with the Stars" alongside her professional partner Valentin Chmerkovskiy. During this era of her beauty transformation, her look is naturally a bit more dolled up — bold red lips, dark, glamorous eye makeup, and lots of illuminating highlighter.
She still has a youthfulness about her underneath the glam and glitz, especially in her "Good Morning America" appearance at ABC Studios in 2013 — and she also later on reveals that wearing a ton of makeup isn't her preferred look. "Maybe a little concealer or a little blush. I'll brush my eyebrows. And sometimes mascara, but I don't always like having to take it off at the end of the day," Zendaya shared of her off-day makeup routine in a 2023 interview with Essence. From 2013 to 2016, she starred in her own music videos, as well as alongside stars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Glamorous as ever, "Dancing with the Stars" fans will remember and appreciate her stunning looks throughout the season, as well as her immense talent which landed her runner-up on the season finale.
2017-2018: The actor transforms in her first Spider-Man film
Jumping ahead to a major career moment for Zendaya, the star appeared in two blockbuster hits, "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and "The Greatest Showman" in 2017. It's during this mega year that the effortlessly beautiful icon shines even brighter. We see a more grown and elegant version of the actor both on and off the red carpet. "From a character perspective, I want to find things that will push me," Zendaya later told Elle in 2023. "As I get older, you know, I can't play a teenager for the rest of my life."
Her ability to morph from a Gen-Z pop icon to a classic Hollywood beauty in 2017 and 2018 is nothing short of mesmerizing. We see her wear her hair in loose waves with a classic glam makeup aesthetic at the Los Angeles Premiere "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and once again those brows are the picture of perfection, appearing even fuller than they once did.
2019-2020: Softer looks throughout her more controversial role on Euphoria
Demonstrating her range in both beauty and talent, a previously unseen and dynamic side of Zendaya came out to play during her time on the divisive and controversial show "Euphoria," which centralizes on the lives of American teenagers struggling with drugs, sex, and identity. Her character, Rue Bennet, exudes a casual, grungy-chic skater-girl vibe and Zendaya embodies the look with skilled ease — rarely wearing a touch of makeup, but when she does, the energy is both moody and angelic.
There's an ethereal softness to Zendaya's beauty transformation during her "Euphoria" era, perhaps best showcased at the LA Premiere in 2019 at The Cinerama Dome, where she was seen wearing lighter bangs and pearly highlighter. The role of Rue aptly demonstrates Zendaya's range and ability to embody whatever she chooses. "We see her strutting into work and she's wearing Dickies and a T-shirt and sneakers and she's like 'oh no but I love to slay.' She knows that she can be all those things, whatever she wants to be. I want young women like Zendaya to lead the world," Colman Domingo who plays Rue's counselor on "Euphoria" told Elle. Zendaya won outstanding lead actress in a drama series at the 72nd Emmy Awards for her role as Rue in "Euphoria," making her the youngest Emmy winner.
2021-2023: Futuristic styles during a special screening of Dune
Moving with fluidity from one transformative moment to another, Zendaya once again showed fans her ability to embody the essence of her current project on the runway. During the "Dune" UK Special Screening at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in 2021, Zendaya wore sculpted braids and a sci-fi, luminescent violet eyeshadow with metallic purple liner at the inner corners of her eyes. She also wore a more laminated and fluffy brow than she has in the past, as well as full, lush lashes. As evidenced by this beauty era in her career — and basically every one prior — Zendaya's brows can truly do no wrong.
While only appearing briefly in "Dune," the role marked yet another expansive moment in Zendaya's career — and was also the year she starred in "Spider-Man: No Way Home" — demonstrating her chameleon-like ability to shift between genres and gracefully wear inventive and ethereal looks. She shared shots from her "Dune" red carpet moment on her Instagram account in October 2021 to the applause of many adoring fans and over 7 million likes.
2024-present: Fully embodied beauty at a premiere of Dune: Part Two
With the release of the much anticipated "Dune: Part Two" in early 2024 – wherein Zendaya's character Chani receives far more screen time than the first installment of the story – the actor's aura continues to evolve and transform. Her looks in promotion of the film had fans excited for her 2024 Met Gala return, thanks to her previous ensembles which thrilled with their revolutionary, innovative energy. At the "Dune: Part Two" premiere, held at the Lincoln Center, Zendaya wore her hair in long, partially defined curls and paired the style with a pleasing makeup palette of warm peach hues — and needless to say, the brows stun.
The talented icon has taken us through an impressive and evolutionary beauty journey since her early days on the sets of Disney. It's likely no wonder that she's come as far as she has with the natural skill, effortless beauty, and hard work she's crafted her career upon. We can't wait to see the next stage of her stunning transformation.