In Zendaya Coleman’s most recent interview with Complex magazine, she touches on the intrinsic social responsibility that comes with her celebrity status.
She said, “Of course. 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.”
She goes on to mention Amandla Stenberg, who has also been a very outspoken advocate for cultural awareness and education. Of Amandla, Zendaya says, “Oh yeah, she’s the bomb. Freaking Amandla, who’s so smart and so wise. She’s just a great young person who’s trying to not only be aware of her surroundings, but also speak on it, which is really, really cool. There’s a lot of really good stuff happening.”
Indeed. These young women are refreshing alternatives to some of the most popular stars of our day, who generally remain mum about issues, and seem to stand for little more than sex and excess.
Finally, beautiful, fashionable young women are making it cool to care. They take their public status seriously, and hope to effect positive and culturally profound change through their influence.
Theres’s nothing hotter than that.
What do you think?