Zendaya Slays In Two Custom Fits At ‘Challengers’ Los Angeles Premiere

The Los Angeles premiere of Zendaya’s new film, Challengers, was nothing short of a star-studded affair.
Venus Williams, Tina Knowles, Cynthia Erivo, Storm Reid, and others  pulled up to the Regency Village Theater for the premiere alongside Zendaya’s co-stars, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, as well as the film’s director, Luca Guadagnino.

On the carpet, the Emmy winner wore a custom Vera Wang princess-like ballgown with a black lace bustier. However, once inside the theater, she changed into a custom Celia Kritharioti neon-green halter gown with a low V-neckline in the front, held together by a tennis ball that was sliced in half—adding to her stunning looks throughout the press run.

Challengers stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former teen tennis star who suffers a career-ending injury and becomes a fiercely competitive coach, hoping to win her husband, Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), his first US Open. However, after running into her ex-boyfriend and Art’s ex-best friend, Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor), during a qualifying match, the men realize their competitiveness goes beyond the court. They not only are trying to prove a professional point, but are also proving their worthiness to Tashi.

Back in August, Zendaya explained to ELLE how this character would be her true debut as a leading lady. It was admittedly “a little bit scary” to tackle the role, but like everything else, she did it in stride—even if she didn’t fully grasp Tashi’s choices.

“I still don’t understand the decisions she makes, and we had so many conversations about why she is that way,” said the 27-year-old. “What was important to me was that she was unapologetic. Sometimes characters who are messy and conflicted and wield power over other people are reserved for [actors] who don’t look like me, so when I get an opportunity to play a character like that, I’ma take it!”

Zendaya spent three months training in preparation for the film, and per the outlet, “it instilled in her a deep admiration for athletes who compete and perform simultaneously.”

Challengers premieres in theaters on April 26. Check out the trailer and highlights from the L.A. premiere below.

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