Zendaya Explains the Real Reason She Came Back to Disney
On the election and voting: "There's really crazy stuff happening right now, and it's disappointing, sad, and scary. My generation, we really have to step up to the plate and vote. Tweeting is great-people say, Oh, I don't want this or that-but at the end of the day, tweeting isn't a ballot. Just saying that you don't like someone on Twitter is not going to turn a state blue or red. You have to vote."
On her return to Disney as the star and coproducer of K.C. Undercover: "The only way I was going to come back to the Disney Channel was if I was in a position of more power. One thing that is really important to me is diversity on the channel. It's hard as a young person of a different ethnicity or background to look at the TV and not see anyone who looks like you. Representation is very important."
On a situation on-set with someone being racially insensitive: "I didn't like my hair and makeup one time on a photo shoot, and my publicist told me, 'You should just be happy with it-they haven't had a black girl on the cover since forever.' She's no longer my publicist."
On being in love versus casual hookups: "Me, personally? I would much rather be in love and have the full experience with the person I'm doing that with. Everyone deserves to be in love-it's different from when you're with someone you don't really know. But as long as you protect yourself and get tested periodically, then by all means, go ahead and do what you've got to do!"
For more of Zendaya's exclusive interview and photo shoot with Cosmopolitan, pick up the July 2016 issue on newsstands June 7 or click here to subscribe to the digital edition!
