Zendaya Makes History
24-year-old acting sensation Zendaya Coleman (Zendaya) got her big break on Disney Channel “Shake it Up” in 2010. Currently, Zendaya is starring in the teen drama “Euphoria”, which first aired on the Home Box Office (HBO)streaming service on June 19, 2019. This earned Zendaya recognition for her excellence in television after being awarded with an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series on Sept. 20.
In “Euphoria”, Zendaya portrays the character of Rue Bennett, a 17-year-old who just returned from a rehabilitation center as she navigates through the anxieties and uncertainties of high school, relying on substance abuse as a coping mechanism. In dealing with the struggles of teenage life, characters in “Euphoria” attempt to establish their identities, and the show puts a spotlight on anger management issues, mental illness, abuse, gender identity, sexuality and peer pressure, emphasizing each character’s struggle to avoid social conformity.
The show promotes the acceptance and confrontation of these topics throughout adolescence, allowing young audiences to identify with the characters’ experiences; both the triumphs and the challenges. Senior Brianna Yi expects that Zendaya’s work will forge a new narrative of the teenage experience and perception of it.
“[Since they are] teenagers, society [turns] a blind eye to what goes on in the dark for them,” Yi said. “[“Euphoria”] talks about what people are scared to confront, and promotes overcoming that initial fear of facing your demons.”
Zendaya’s unexpected win was especially encouraging, as it represents the potential success in store for young actors and actresses. The shocking Emmy win over her fellow nominees, Jennifer Aniston and Olivia Colman, proves that young actors and actresses are prodigious parts of the film industry.
“Zendaya is an inspiration to [young girls] because she obviously [acts] for the art and not the fame. She exemplifies that anyone can join the film industry,” Yi said. “Her achievements in acting [alter] the world’s views on young women in the film industry.”
Zendaya serves as a role model and portrays stressors that young adults experience through Rue. Because of this, Zendaya continues to inspire teenagers and reimagine possibilities within the entertainment industry.
