Zendaya with her parents, Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu Coleman, at the 2016 Essence Black Women in Music event at Avalon on February 11, 2016 in Hollywood, California. (Getty)
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, known professionally just as Zendaya, stars this weekend in Marvel Studios’ Spider-Man: Homecoming. The 20-year-old actress and singer is known primarily for her role on the Disney Channel series Shake It Up, and she also in 2013 released her debut album, Zendaya.
Zendaya credits her parents, who drove her to her first audition for Shake It Up, for a lot of her success and for her ability to stay down to Earth.
“I gotta give it up to my parents,” Zendaya said on Ellen. “I’m really lucky to have the parents that I have. They just have always instilled in me those core values that I think I have to carry with me through everything. I give it up to them, I give it up to my family.”
So who exactly are Zendaya’s parents? Here’s what you need to know about them.
1. Her Mother is Claire Stoermer, a Teacher
Zendaya’s mother is Claire Stoermer, and it seems that the two of them have a pretty close relationship. Stoermer frequently goes to events with her daughter, recently attending the premiere of Spider-Man: Homecoming and posting tons of pictures on Instagram. In one, she wrote in the caption, “i’m her #1 fan.”
Zendaya also once visited the White House with her mom in 2011; she said in an interview with Teen Vogue that Michelle Obama gave her and her mom a hug.
“I was obviously nervous but was immediately put at ease when she gave me and my mom a big hug and we all instantly bonded over our height,” Zendaya told Teen Vogue. “‘Oh, we like tall girls here,’ she said, and that’s when I knew: We have the dopest First Lady ever.”
Claire is a teacher, and Zendaya says that watching her mom teach in inner-city schools in Oakland, California was a major inspiration.
“My mom went above and beyond, working constantly to open her students’ eyes to an education that could lift them far beyond their current circumstances,” Zendaya told Teen Vogue. “She would introduce them to the arts, guide them through the language of Shakespeare, and show them the wonders of nature outside city life — all things that they wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. Watching her was magical; it instilled within me a true appreciation of and devotion to the importance of education.”
When Zendaya moved out to Los Angeles upon being cast in Shake It Up, her mother stayed in Oakland to teach. However, Zendaya still saw her mom every other week.
@Nonygrmania me + my dad live in la but my mom is a teacher so she couldn’t quit and move out with us:( but I c her like every other week!:)
Stoermer has indicated that watching her daughter in Spider-Man: Homecoming is going to be an emotional experience. She wrote on one photo, “i think i’m gonna cry the entire time thru spider-man! #proundmom#waterproofmakeup ?”
A few months ago, Zendaya posted a series of photos on Twitter of herself dyeing her mother’s hair. She also did her mother’s makeup back in February, as seen on an Instagram video.
Just did a light color and style on my mommy…I mean….I could open up a salon at this point💗💜 @clairemaree64
Zendaya’s mom has several tattoos, and she’s apparently getting them at a quick rate. In June 2016, Stoermer posted that she had five and wanted to get more, which prompted Zendaya to say that her mom only had three when she last saw her.
I now have 5 tattoos…I think I want more! 😎😁👍🏼
According to Zendaya’s Twitter, her mother is a Justin Bieber fan.
My mom is Justin lmao😂😂😂😂
Zendaya also says that her mom has “worked her butt off to be healthy/feel good in her skin,” adding, “mom you look amazing.”
She’s worked her butt off to be healthy/feel good in her skin, mom you look amazing ( @TheSweatShoppe is her secret😂) http://t.co/yfXe1PWUih
2. Her Mom Has a Jewelry Line
Zendaya’s mom Claire Stoermer has a jewelry line called Kizzmet Jewelry, and Zendaya frequently wears this jewelry. Stoermer makes all of the jewelry herself by hand.
Zendaya writes on her website, “My mom makes the sickest jewelry for her line Kizzmet. I rock it all the time! She knows so much about the meaning of stones and customizes each piece…”
On the Instagram page kizzmetjewelry, Claire Stoermer posts photos of this jewelry, sometimes being worn by Zendaya.
This past May, Stoermer expressed excitement that her jewelry was featured in a magazine article; Zendaya is wearing it in a photo printed in InStyle.
In a video posted to Zendaya’s subscription-based app, she shows off her mother’s jewelry and Stoermer talks about how it is made.
Checkout “Making Jewelry With My Mama!” on #ZendayaTheApp
3. Her Father Is Kazembe Ajamu Coleman & He is Her Manager
Zendaya and Kazembe Ajamu Coleman attend the world premiere of The Hateful Eight presented by The Weinstein Company at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on December 7, 2015 in Hollywood, California.
(Getty)
Zendaya’s father is Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. According to Hello Beautiful, Zendaya’s father traces his roots back to Nigeria on his mother’s side.
Kazembe Ajamu Coleman has a background in teaching, just like Zendaya’s mother.
“Both my parents are teachers so I always had to take school very seriously,” Zendaya told US Magazine.
In addition, according to TMZ, Zendaya’s father is her manager.
On Father’s Day, Zendaya posted a vintage picture of her dad and wrote, “Happy Father’s Day to my OG…thank you for your unconditional love, your unwavering strength, your protection, and your wisdom, even when I think I know everything. I’m so thankful to have you as a father. (I wish he woulda kept these suits cause pops was fly and I woulda worn them all).”
Although he has not been active in the past seven months, Zendaya’s dad is on Twitter as, appropriately, @Zendayas_Dad.
Had a blessed holiday and road trip with my beautiful daughter @Zendaya …that’s my girl!
In February 2016, following rumors that Zendaya and Odell Beckham Jr. were dating, Zendaya’s dad told TMZ, “He actually was a perfect gentleman, he was polite, he was courteous, he was respectful in every way. I absolutely commend that young man.”
4. Her Parents Are Divorced
My parents ain’t been together for a long time, y’all didn’t know cause we private+they still homies😂 #lateassnews
Zendaya’s parents are no longer together. In August 2016, TMZ reported that Claire Stoermer had filed for divorce against Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. They had been married for eight years by this point.
In response to this news being reported, Zendaya said on Twitter that her parents actually haven’t been together for a long time. She said that this hadn’t been reported before because they’re private people.
While it’s unclear when exactly Zendaya’s parents separated, they were together at least until 2012, when Zendaya posted a “happy anniversary” message for them.
5. Zendaya Moved Out & Purchased Her Own Home Earlier This Year
As of early 2017, Zendaya was living with her parents, and she said that this had its perks.
“For me, there are a lot more upsides than there are downsides,” Zendaya said on Ellen. “Me and my parents, we’ve set boundaries, we have territories. Once I hit 18, I was like, ‘Guys, you know, I just need you to give me a little space so I can be a teenager, be grown a little bit.’ So they respect my space, I resect their space. But at the end of the day, I don’t have to wake myself up. I got a free ride whenever I want. So why would I want to give that up?”
Zendaya did recently give those things up, though, as she purchased a home of her own in Los Angeles. According to Observer, this home cost $1.4 million, and it has five bedrooms and five bathrooms.
“Guys, I’ve always wanted stairs like this like literally since I was a little girl,” Zendaya told her fans when she bought the house. “Because you know, I’m from Oakland, humble beginnings, I have two parents as teachers so I’ve never lived in a two-story house or a house with air conditioning or a house with a pool so this is crazy. I have a staircase, it’s like the Cinderella spiral staircase.”
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Zendaya’s Parents: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know