Zendaya Opens Up About a Painful Loss in 2013 That Still Affects Her Emotionally

Zendaya hasn’t forgotten about losing the Dancing With the Stars mirrorball trophy in 2013. 

Star of the movie Dune, aged 28, recently talked about her experience on season 16 of a dancing competition and how stressful it was for her to finish in second place. In a new interview with W Magazine, she shared her feelings.

Zendaya, who was partnered up with Val Chmerkovskiy, 38, ultimately lost to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough. 

She revealed that she is still a little upset about not winning and no longer watches the show. Additionally, she mentioned that her partner is planning to take on the role of a stay-at-home father.

Recalling her time on the show, she expressed how challenging it was for her, especially at the age of 16, to be constantly on live television. She described the experience as incredibly nerve-wracking.

The star — who shared that she suffered from heatstroke on Dune 2 — also said that she wishes she ‘didn’t’ take the the show as ‘seriously’ as she did. 

Zendaya, 28, revealed that losing the Dancing With the Stars mirrorball trophy in 2013 was ‘highly stressful’ in a new interview with W Magazine; she is pictured December 2 in NYC

The actress admitted she’s ‘still harboring a little animosity’ over the loss, and no longer watches the show; pictured with dancing partner Val Chmerkovskiy on season 16

‘I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, “Eh, whatever.”‘ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that.’

Though she no longer watches the show, Zendaya hasn’t given up on reality TV altogether, and admitted she likes Netflix dating series Love Is Blind.

‘I love, unfortunately, Love Is Blind, and then I feel bad for watching it,’ she shared, calling the show a ‘guilty pleasure.’

‘It’s brutal. I’m like, “Dang, you guys know you’re on camera?”‘

Zendaya previously said she ‘didn’t really watch’ Dancing With the Stars prior to participating on the show, in an October interview on Entertainment Weekly’s Awardist podcast.

‘I have not watched Dancing With the Stars since I was on,’ Zendaya stated.

‘I didn’t really watch Dancing With the Stars before I was on Dancing With the Stars. I don’t think I was the target demographic. My grandma loves Dancing With the Stars, that’s her bag,’ she said.

At the time the actress also admitted it a ‘very stressful experience,’ adding, ‘I was like, I don’t think I’m gonna be watching this anymore.’

‘I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful,’ she told the publication. ‘Being on live television every week? It’s so scary’

The star also shared that she wishes she ‘didn’t’ take the the show as ‘seriously’ as she did

‘I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, “Eh, whatever.”‘ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that’

Zendaya ultimately lost to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough; Kellie, Derek, Zendaya and Val seen during the finale 

Her dancing partner Chmerkovskiy — who has won the mirrorball trophy three times — has also previously shared his upset at the fact that Zendaya did not win.

‘My biggest heartbreak was on Dancing With the Stars, not winning with Zendaya, honestly. That was a huge heartbreak for me because she was 16,’ he told Entertainment Tonight in March 2018.

‘I wanted this to be such a huge moment for her. She worked so hard, and I really wanted her to lift that trophy and jump-start her career. And she didn’t lift the trophy and I felt heartbroken about that.’

Luckily, he believes her time on the show ‘jump-started her career.’

‘That’s when you learn that it’s not necessarily always about winning or losing, it’s really about learning through the process and then using those tools to further yourself down the road.’

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 ascended 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 flourish, her boyfriend, Tom Holland, recently revealed 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 own a home together in London’s leafy Richmond.

Tom – who also shares two dogs with Zendaya – has now vowed that he will ‘disappear’ from the spotlight once he has a family of his own.

Despite her loss, her dancing partner Val previously shared that he believes her time on the show ‘jump-started her career’

Over the past decade, she has ascended to Hollywood stardom, with notable roles in the Spider-Man franchise, The Greatest Showman and Dune (seen in still from Dune 2)

The English star revealed he will be content with just spending time with his kids and playing the occasional round of golf.

He told Men’s Health magazine on Thursday: ‘When I have kids, you will not see me in movies anymore.

‘Golf and dad – and I will just disappear off the face of the earth.’

Zendaya and Tom met on the set of Spider-man: Homecoming in 2017, but predominantly keep their relationship out of the public eye.

Tom previously revealed the reason he keeps his relationship with girlfriend Zendaya so private is because their bond is the ‘thing he keeps most sacred’.