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Zendayais not shy about using her voice, whether it is calling the shots atdisneyor clapping back on social media. the talented 22-year-old actor and singer also has a deep sense of duty to educate and we are all ears.

- Janet Mock

Zendaya Coleman, better known simply as Zendaya, is beloved by girls and women who share her hue and textures, seeking mirrors of themselves. Her sartorial choices are audacious, epitomising the free-spirited black girl who refused to let her race and gender block her from living a life of freedom, joy and the fullest expression.

But Zendaya, 22, has done more than just serve a look and a performance. She has a deep sense of duty to explain and educate, which makes sense given that she was raised by teachers. She became a household name (to adults) after she was attacked for pairing her Vivienne Westwood gown with waist-length faux locks at the 2015 Oscars. It was E! host Giuliana Rancic who said she looked like she ‘smells like patchouli oil … or weed.’ Zendaya set her straight on social media. ‘There is already harsh criticism of African-American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair,’ she wrote. (Giuliana later apologised on air.) Hair for black women is much deeper than follicles. Our hair can carry messages about our ability, our worth, and, yes, our freedom.

What’s worth noting is that the clapback against Giuliana Rancic has been Zendaya’s only controversy. For a former child star who has been on TV since she was 14, the fact that she has managed not to screw up in public or rebel against her squeaky-clean Disney persona is a miracle. Instead, she has chosen to be a ‘real model’ for what is possible for girls and young women craving to see themselves. But she’s clear that she cannot be the sole representation.