Zendaya reveals the ‘highly stressful’ loss from 2013 that she’s ‘still harboring a little animosity’ over
Zendaya hasn’t forgotten losing the Dancing With the Stars mirrorball trophy in 2013.
The Dune star, 28, reflected on competing during Season 16 of the dancing show and the “very stressful” experience of finishing in second place, in a new interview with W magazine.
Zendaya, who teamed with 38-year-old Val Chmerkovskiy, ultimately lost to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough.
The actress — whose boyfriend plans to become a stay-at-home dad — admitted she’s “still a little hostile” about the loss and no longer watches the show.
‘I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old and it was very stressful,” she told the publication. ‘Being live on television every week? It’s so scary.’
The star – who revealed she suffered from heatstroke on Dune 2 – also said she wished she hadn’t taken the show as “seriously” as she did.
Zendaya, 28, revealed that losing the Dancing With the Stars mirrorball trophy in 2013 was “very stressful” in a new interview with W Magazine; she is pictured in NYC on December 2
The actress admitted that she is “still a little hostile” about the loss and no longer watches the show; pictured with dance partner Val Chmerkovskiy in season 16
“I wish I would have enjoyed it a little more and just thought, ‘Eh, whatever.’” You know what I mean? But I worried myself. I really experienced that.’
Although she no longer watches the show, Zendaya hasn’t completely given up on reality TV and admits that she loves the Netflix dating series Love Is Blind.
“Unfortunately, I love Love Is Blind, and then I feel bad when I watch it,” she said, calling the show a “guilty pleasure.”
‘It’s cruel. I’m like, “Dang, do you guys know you’re on camera?”
Zendaya previously said she “didn’t really watch Dancing With the Stars” before joining the show, in an October interview on Entertainment Weekly’s Award winner podcast.
“I haven’t watched Dancing With the Stars since I was on it,” Zendaya said.
“I didn’t really watch Dancing With the Stars before I started Dancing With the Stars. I don’t think I was the target audience. My grandma loves Dancing With the Stars, that’s her bag,” she said.
At the time, the actress also admitted that it was a “very stressful experience,” adding, “I was like, I don’t think I’m going to watch this again.”
‘I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old and it was very stressful,” she told the publication. ‘Being live on television every week? It’s so scary’
The star also shared that she wished she hadn’t taken the show as “seriously” as she did
“I wish I would have enjoyed it a little more and just thought, ‘Eh, whatever.'” You know what I mean? But I worried myself. I really experienced it’
Zendaya ultimately lost to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough; Kellie, Derek, Zendaya and Val seen during the finale
Her dance partner Chmerkovskiy – who has won the mirrorball trophy three times – has also previously shared his anger at Zendaya not winning.
“My biggest heartbreak was on Dancing With the Stars, and honestly not winning with Zendaya. That was a huge sadness for me because she was 16,” he said Entertainment tonight in March 2018.
“I wanted this to be such a big moment for her. She worked so hard, and I really wanted her to lift that trophy and kick-start her career. And she didn’t lift the trophy and I felt heartbroken about that.”
Fortunately, he believes her time on the show “jump-started her career.”
“Then you learn that it’s not necessarily always about winning or losing, but it’s really about learning through the process and then using those tools to help yourself along the way.”
Before her time on Dancing With The Stars, Zendaya was best known for her roles on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up.
Over the past decade, she has risen to Hollywood stardom, with notable roles in the Spider-Man franchise, Dune 1 and 2, The Greatest Showman and Challengers.
While her career continues to blossom, her boyfriend, Tom Holland, recently revealed that he plans to quit acting and become a stay-at-home dad when he and Zendaya have children.
The Spider Man actor, 28, has been in a relationship with his co-star Zendaya since 2021 and the pair have a house together in London’s leafy Richmond.
Tom – who also shares two dogs with Zendaya – has now vowed to ‘disappear’ from the spotlight once he has a family of his own.
Despite her loss, her dance partner Val previously shared that he believes her time on the show ‘kickstarted her career’
Over the past decade, she has risen to Hollywood stardom, with notable roles in the Spider-Man franchise, The Greatest Showman and Dune (seen in still from Dune 2)
The England star revealed that he will be content spending time with his children and playing the occasional round of golf.
He told it Men’s health magazine Thursday: ‘When I have children, you won’t see me in films anymore.
“Golf and dad – and I’ll just disappear off the face of the earth.”
Zendaya and Tom met on the set of Spider-man: Homecoming in 2017, but have largely kept their relationship out of the public eye.
Tom previously revealed that the reason he keeps his relationship with girlfriend Zendaya so private is because their bond is “the thing he holds most sacred.”