Before becoming one of Hollywood’s most admired stars, Zendaya had to endure mockery over her appearance and for not fitting in with the other children. But those criticisms never managed to limit her or stop her from continuing to discover everything she was capable of doing. Old photographs from her childhood show her playing soccer, in a yellow uniform and completely focused on the field, a side of her that surprised many of her followers.
While growing up in Oakland, she also played basketball and took part in track and field, while becoming involved in theater and dance. Over the years, that curiosity became her greatest strength: she went from sports to the stage, television, film, and fashion.
Today, the images remind us that her versatility did not begin with fame: Zendaya was already refusing to be pigeonholed as a child.