Zaya Wade is having a moment. Just a week after her stunning runway model debut at the Miu Miu show at Paris Fashion Week, the teenage daughter of former NBA player Dwyane Wade is the cover star for the Spring 2023 issue of Dazed. In her first-ever cover story, the 15-year-old talked about the best beauty and self-love advice she’s received from her stepmom, actor Gabrielle Union.
“The lesson has changed over time, but more recently it’s that beauty is in yourself,” she told Dazed. “It’s about being you and expressing yourself the way you want to. She tries to teach me that beauty standards are arbitrary and that they don’t mean anything. They don’t matter any more; what people thought was the standard is not. And just that being myself is the best technique out there.”
Wade, who came out as transgender in 2020 when she was 12 (her name was legally changed to Zaya just last month, per People) also talked about the importance of family. In the interview, she says that she feels her most empowered when she’s surrounded by them. “They are such a giant support system and have always been there for me. No matter what happens, I feel strongest when I’m with them,” she said. “So many big changes have happened over the last couple of years with me, but also just in general. I think it’s not my job, but it’s my honor to continue and further my family’s education and appreciation for the entire LBGTQ+ community as we grow together,” she continued. “As our understanding of acceptance has broadened over the past couple of years, we have made the strides to keep ourselves educated and combat the ignorance.”
Zaya Wade also discussed growing up in the public eye with Dazed. “There are some highs and some low,” she said. “I mean, a lot of attention equals a lot more hate, a lot of transphobia, and [there is] a lot of pressure on me, but I’m also able to reach more people. The positives of having such an inclusive platform completely outweigh all of the negativity online, which my support system has enabled me to filter out. It has allowed me to let in the positivity and distribute it to all of the trans people in the world who need a voice and give them a platform to get inspired to live with themselves without being afraid.”
