Zendaya Reflects on Her Time on “Dancing with the Stars”
Zendaya, known for her roles in “Euphoria” and “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” recently opened up about her experience on the popular dance competition show, “Dancing with the Stars.” The actress, who was the runner-up on Season 16 of the show back in 2013, revealed that she still thinks about her time on the series.
In a recent interview with W Magazine, Zendaya admitted that she wished she had not taken the show as seriously as she did at the time. “I took it very seriously, which, in retrospect, I wish I didn’t,” Zendaya said. “I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that.”
Zendaya was ultimately defeated by Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough for the honor of the Mirror Ball Trophy. She danced with Valentin Chmerkovskiy and earned second place over NFL wide receiver Jacoby Jones and Karina Smirnoff.
Reflecting on her loss, Zendaya shared, “Listen, I’m still harboring a little animosity about that. I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful. Being on live television every week? It’s so scary.”
Despite her time on the show, Zendaya revealed that she has not watched “Dancing with the Stars” since leaving. In an interview with EW’s The Awardist podcast last October, she explained, “I didn’t really watch ‘Dancing with the Stars’ before I was on ‘Dancing with the Stars.’ My grandma loves ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ that’s her bag. But yeah, I also think it was a very stressful experience. I was like, I don’t think I’m gonna be watching this anymore.”
Zendaya’s candid reflections on her time on “Dancing with the Stars” provide insight into the pressures of competing on a high-profile reality TV show. Despite not taking home the coveted Mirror Ball Trophy, Zendaya’s talent and grace on the dance floor have left a lasting impression on viewers and fans alike.
