

Why Zendaya Auditions For Roles Meant For White Women
Zendaya has effortlessly ascended to becoming one of the top faces of young Hollywood. Smart, outspoken, fashionable, and charitable, the 21-year-old actress not only understands her responsibility as a role model but embraces it with ease and enthusiasm.
The Spider-Man star doesn't hold back when it comes to speaking up on representation in Hollywood. As a biracial woman (her mother is white and her father is black), she understands the importance of inclusion but stops short of wanting be its sole representative. At this year's Beautycon, she made it clear that Hollywood needs to do better in regards to colorism:
"I am Hollywood's, I guess you could say, acceptable version of a black girl, and that needs to change. We're vastly too beautiful and too interesting for me to be the only representation of that."
Zendaya is seemingly on a mission to change the minds of casting directors when it comes to diversity. As women of color, we've all been placed in scenarios where we've had to either use our "white sounding" voice or downplay our ethnicity in order to get the call.
For Zendaya, she is breaking down her own doors by auditioning for roles that are typically reserved for white women. By doing so, she is also opening doors for women of color in line behind her. She told Janet Mock in a conversation for Marie Claire:
"I always tell my theatrical manager, 'Anytime it says they're looking for white girls, send me out. Let me get in the room. Maybe they'll change their minds.' And, honestly, if there's a part that I didn't get or that I really wanted at the time, shit always ends up working out."
As one of the many faces representing #blackgirlmagic on magazine covers of major September issues, she recognizes that the more she puts herself out there, the more Hollywood will not only recognize her talent, but perhaps they will even begin to create more roles for people of color to audition for in the first place.
Zendaya also notes that she stands firm in her convictions, and if something doesn't feel right, she won't do it in order to please others. She says:
"There was a lot of not getting the audition that I wanted and often going out for parts that weren't written for a girl who looks like me and just saying, "Hey, see me anyway," until the right thing stuck. Whenever I've been persuaded or trying to do something to please somebody else or because there's pressure from people in general to make a decision, it always blows up in my face. So I have been in this zone of only doing shit because I want to do it and because it feels right all the way through."
She doesn't take her position lightly, either. Yara Shahidi is also another woman of color blazing the trail of representation in Hollywood. When asked why she is so vocal about Hollywood's lack of diversity, Zendaya knows that she and Shahidi have an important responsibility to help pave the way for women that don't look like them. She says:
"What is important to me is knowing we are not the only black girls in the industry. We kind of have been painted as the face, and that's not the truth. It's important to have a conversation where we are opening the door to our peers and more black women who don't necessarily look like us."
"What is important to me is knowing we are not the only black girls in the industry."
The former Disney star has gracefully transitioned from girl to woman in the acting world. However, Disney kids and child actors have often had a difficult time navigating life after reaching stardom at a young age—insert Lindsay Lohan. But Zendaya is smart enough to know that she doesn't have the option to make those same mistakes.
As women of color, it is almost like our cross to bear: we have to work twice as hard to earn the same opportunities AND we aren't afforded the humanness to mess up. She refuses to jeopardize her career in the name of "just being a kid." She tells Janet Mock:
"What my white peers would be able to get away with at this point in their career is not something that I will be able to do. And I knew that from when I was real young. That's just the truth, and so you'll be kind of afraid of making mistakes because I love what I do. I don't want to jeopardize it at any point because I am not allowed the room to mess up."
Zendaya may be young, but she already has big plans for the future. Like the Ava Duvernays and the Mara Brock Akils ahead of her, she says she wants to help create opportunities for people of color and to maybe one day start her own production company. She says:
"One day I might want to have my own production company and create the material that I want to be in. Sometimes we have to create our own lane and our own opportunities when they're not handed to us."
It would be easy for Zendaya to fly under the radar and not speak out on these issues. Instead, she uses her platform to not only shed light on these issues and is actively taking the steps she needs to in order to make these changes happen.
The example she is setting is one that is desperately needed in today's entertainment world, and we are so here for it!
To read more of her interview with Janet Mock, click here. Zendaya's issue of Marie Claire hits newsstands on August 21.
Featured image by Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com
- Zendaya Explaining Why She Auditions For Roles Written For White ... ›
- Zendaya Says She Regularly Auditions for Roles Written for White ... ›
- Zendaya Coleman on Why She Auditions for White Roles - Zendaya ... ›
- Why Zendaya deliberately auditions for "white" roles | W24 ›
- Zendaya Explained Why She Auditions For Roles Written For White ... ›
- Zendaya Explaining Why She Auditions For Roles Written For White ... ›
- Zendaya Says She Intentionally Auditions For White Roles ›
- Why Zendaya auditions for roles 'that weren't written for a girl who ... ›
- Zendaya Explains Why She Intentionally Auditions For White Roles ... ›
- Zendaya Says She Regularly Auditions for Roles Written for White ... ›
Michelle Schmitz is a writer and editor based in Washington, DC originally from Ft Lauderdale, FL. A self-described ambivert, you can find her figuring out ways to read more than her monthly limit of The New York Times, attending concerts, and being a badass, multi-tasking supermom. She also runs her own blog MichelleSasha.com. Keep up with her latest moves on IG: @michellesashawrites and Twitter: @michellesashas
Smile, Sis! These Five Improvements Can Upgrade Your Oral Hygiene Instantly
This article is in partnership with Sensodyne.
Our teeth are connected to so many things - our nutrition, our confidence, and our overall mood. We often take for granted how important healthy teeth are, until issues like tooth sensitivity or gum recession come to remind us. Like most things related to our bodies, prevention is the best medicine. Here are five things you can do immediately to improve your oral hygiene, prevent tooth sensitivity, and avoid dental issues down the road.
1) Go Easy On the Rough Brushing: Brushing your teeth is and always will be priority number one in the oral hygiene department. No surprises there! However, there is such a thing as applying too much pressure when brushing…and that can lead to problems over time. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and brush in smooth, circular motions. It may seem counterintuitive, but a gentle approach to brushing is the most effective way to clean those pearly whites without wearing away enamel and exposing sensitive areas of the teeth.
2) Use A Desensitizing Toothpaste: As everyone knows, mouth pain can be highly uncomfortable; but tooth sensitivity is a whole different beast. Hot weather favorites like ice cream and popsicles have the ability to trigger tooth sensitivity, which might make you want to stay away from icy foods altogether. But as always, prevention is the best medicine here. Switching to a toothpaste like Sensodyne’s Sensitivity & Gum toothpaste specifically designed for sensitive teeth will help build a protective layer over sensitive areas of the tooth. Over time, those sharp sensations that occur with extremely cold foods will subside, and you’ll be back to treating yourself to your icy faves like this one!
3) Floss, Rinse, Brush. (And In That Order!): Have you ever heard the saying, “It’s not what you do, but how you do it”? Well, the same thing applies to taking care of your teeth. Even if you are flossing and brushing religiously, you could be missing out on some of the benefits simply because you aren’t doing so in the right order. Flossing is best to do before brushing because it removes food particles and plaque from places your toothbrush can’t reach. After a proper flossing sesh, it is important to rinse out your mouth with water after. Finally, you can whip out your toothbrush and get to brushing. Though many of us commonly rinse with water after brushing to remove excess toothpaste, it may not be the best thing for our teeth. That’s because fluoride, the active ingredient in toothpaste that protects your enamel, works best when it gets to sit on the teeth and continue working its magic. Rinsing with water after brushing doesn’t let the toothpaste go to work like it really can. Changing up your order may take some getting used to, but over time, you’ll see the difference.
4) Stay Hydrated: Upping your water supply is a no-fail way to level up your health overall, and your teeth are no exception to this rule. Drinking water not only helps maintain a healthy pH balance in your mouth, but it also washes away residue and acids that can cause enamel erosion. It also helps you steer clear of dry mouth, which is a gateway to bad breath. And who needs that?
5) Show Your Gums Some Love: When it comes to improving your smile, you may be laser-focused on getting your teeth whiter, straighter, and overall healthier. Rightfully so, as these are all attributes of a megawatt smile; but you certainly don’t want to leave gum health out of the equation. If you neglect your gums, you’ll start to notice the effects of plaque buildup, which can irritate the gums and cause gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease. Seeing blood while brushing and flossing is a tell-tale sign that your gums are suffering. You may also experience gum recession — a condition where the gum tissue surrounding your teeth pulls back, exposing more of your tooth. Brushing at least twice a day with a gum-protecting toothpaste like Sensodyne Sensitivity and Gum, coupled with regular dentist visits, will keep your gums shining as bright as those pearly whites.
We all have a dream life that we spend our free time daydreaming about. You know, the one with a loving partner, high-rise apartment, thriving career, and endless abundance. But as much as we can dream about it, there has to be a little extra sprinkle of “magic” to make it become a reality, and that’s when manifestation comes in.
The uptick in manifestation techniques is nothing new to the internet. Since The Secret and the Law of Attraction became available on YouTube in the early 2010s and fast forward to today, where #manifestationtok and #spiritualtok surging in popularity, it’s clear that there are a number of different ways to get what you want out of life with the right action, affirmation, and visualization.
Still, with so many ways to manifest, from scripting to the 3-6-9 Method, it can be hard to know which one to lean into. But there’s one new technique that’s promising to yield “instant results,” and we’re curious about it.
The "I Am Sure" Manifestation
@hothighpriestess Replying to @A I M E E 🖤 lG: hothighpriestess 🤍 this is the “I am sure” method #iamsuremethod
The “I Am Sure” manifestation gained traction this summer by TikTok creator Sara Perl of @hothighpriestess, who initially introduced the method.
In her original video breaking down the concept, she detailed the steps to use the technique for those looking to “manifest overnight.” To do so, start by stating “I am sure,” followed by “your desired manifestation in the present tense.” If there’s a job, promotion, or text from a crush that you want, then you’d say, “I am sure that I got X job,” or “I am sure that I make a $100K salary.” Repeat this out loud 10 times, or for faster results, write them down on a piece of paper and say it back to yourself whenever the desire comes up.
Using your words and speaking in the present tense, affirmatively, “puts you in the frequency that has that desire,” as Perl states. “We know our thoughts create our reality, but our words create our reality even faster.”
No matter how you choose to manifest your dream life, there’s nothing like channeling a powerful affirmation and some faith to get what you desire. In every instance, though, allow yourself to dismiss any doubt that may try to cloud your hopes in good things coming into your life, and don’t hold too tightly onto the “how” or “when.” Trust the process and know that the “thing” that you desire is just waiting for the perfect time to enter your life.
Happy manifesting.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Tassii/Getty Images