Zendaya recently opened up about still harboring animosity over the results of her season on Dancing With the Stars back in 2013, where she ultimately lost to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough. She was only 16 at the time and found the experience to be highly stressful, competing on live television every week with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. Looking back, Zendaya wishes she had enjoyed the experience more and not taken it so seriously, as it was a challenging time for her.
Despite her time on DWTS, Zendaya shared in a recent interview that she does not watch the show anymore. She explained that she didn’t watch it even before competing on the show and found it to be a stressful experience. Chmerkovskiy, her partner on the show, also expressed his disappointment over not winning with Zendaya, as he had hoped to help jumpstart her career with a win. However, he acknowledged that the experience on DWTS did indeed propel Zendaya to greater success in Hollywood.
Zendaya’s career has skyrocketed since her time on DWTS, with notable projects like The Greatest Showman, Dune, and the Spider-Man franchise. Chmerkovskiy took to Instagram in 2020 to congratulate her on winning the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Euphoria, becoming the youngest actress to do so. He expressed his pride in her success and mentioned how he always knew she was special, even during their time together on DWTS, bringing him a great amount of joy to see her accomplishments.
Reflecting on her time on DWTS, Zendaya emphasized the stress and pressure she felt during the competition and her disappointment with not winning. Chmerkovskiy echoed a similar sentiment, expressing his heartbreak over not being able to help Zendaya lift the mirrorball trophy. Despite the loss, he noted that the experience was a learning process that ultimately propelled Zendaya’s career to new heights. Both Zendaya and Chmerkovskiy have since moved on from DWTS, with Zendaya focusing on her successful acting career and Chmerkovskiy continuing to dance and win with other partners on the show.
Overall, Zendaya’s experience on Dancing With the Stars had a lasting impact on her career, despite not winning the competition. The stress and disappointment she felt at the time have stayed with her, but she has since found immense success in the entertainment industry. Chmerkovskiy also reflected on his time with Zendaya and expressed pride in her achievements, despite their loss on the show. Both have pursued their respective paths, with Zendaya becoming a prominent figure in Hollywood and Chmerkovskiy continuing to dance and win on DWTS with other partners.
