Zendaya Coleman Named Complex Magazine’s Woman Of Next Year

Zendaya Coleman may be tempting fate in committing to often the hard to live up role but she maintains she will not struggle like her other child star colleagues.

The 19-year-old has just been named Complex Magazine‘s Woman of Next Year and has made it clear she does not plan to have a ‘Miley Moment’.

In the interview – which is in the December/January issue – the star swears unlike other Disney and Nickelodeon stars before her she does not plan to go off the rails.

When asked about Miley Cyrus’ departure from the good clean Disney kid mold, Zendaya said: ‘A lot of them were forced into being role models and they had to pretend to be something that they didn’t feel matched up with who they were. 

‘And that’s because they started really, really young. So you’ve got to realize when you’re really young you don’t know who you are yet. And as soon as you figure it out, you’ve already been forced to become something that you didn’t really know you signed up for.

‘Everyone has their different ways of learning and growing and finding out who they are, and you can’t fault people for that. Again, I think with all the prior Disney stars, at least you can say they are themselves now.’

The same will not happen to her, the teen said: ‘In order to avoid those problems just be yourself from the beginning and be honest with the world, because that’s the only thing you can do. There will be no surprises… I’m not suddenly going to be like woo, crazy.’

Being real for Zendaya is being what she is expected to be – a role model – and it is something she actively thinks about.

‘Of course [I think about it]. 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.’

From being a good example, to discussing race relations in America and taking on people high up in the entertainment industry, it is easy to forget the Dancing With the Stars star is still a teenager.

‘Honestly I don’t know why I’m so deep. I don’t know! Everybody says I’m like 19 going on 80, honest to god.’

One of the times Zendaya stood up for herself was when Giuliana Rancic made racially insensitive comments about the actress’ dreadlocks when she attended last year’s Oscars.

According to the star, she was not just standing up for herself but again trying to be an example for those around her: ‘All my brothers and my Dad at one point had dreadlocks. My little nieces have curly hair.

‘And if they were to have someone say something demeaning about what they have and what they hold dear to them, then I would want them to at least have the pride within themselves to come up with a response that made sense and that they were proud of.’

While she does not want to go from Disney to disaster, the Shake It Up actress said she does want to go from child actor to Oscar winner – but knows it will be a long road.

‘A small part is OK. [Like] I’m Denzel Washington’s daughter. I have one scene, I have four lines, but at least I got to interact with Denzel Washington and it’s an Oscar-nominated film. It’s OK. I don’t need a big role; I don’t need to be the lead; I don’t need to be the star. I don’t mind being the little side guy; I don’t mind being the janitor who’s like, ”Hey.” It’s like, yeah, well, I said ”Hey” to Johnny Depp, so suck it.’

Oscar aside, she said the career she wants is ‘Oprah plus Beyoncé’.

‘Plus Jay Z. No, I’m kidding. But honestly, just because I feel like Oprah has that brand where it’s like, it’s trusted. If Oprah says she likes it, it must be good. She’s a very trusted figure. She’s like, ”This is the chai latte to drink,” you’re going to drink it. She says at book club, ”This is the book to read,” you read that book.

With all those goals and being a role model, Zendaya does not have a lot of free time – let alone enough time to date.

When asked if she was dating, especially if she was dating her almost contrast companion Trevor Jackson, the star said it is currently not on her radar.

‘You’ve got to realize my schedule is kind of nuts. I don’t have time to go out and get to know somebody. If I didn’t know you from the last three or four years of my life, it’s probably too late.’

But that does not stop the rumours: ‘Any male that I’ve ever been around in my life, if they follow me on Twitter, if they look at me, if they breathe the same air as me, we’ve dated. So yeah.’