Zendaya Says ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Was “A Very Stressful Experience” & Hasn’t Watched Show Since Competing

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Zendaya recalls her time on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Zendaya recalls her time on 'Dancing with the Stars' Marc Piasecki / WireImage / Adam Taylor / Getty Images

Zendaya wants to leave her Dancing With the Stars experience in the past and is not looking back.

The Challengers star appeared on the ABC competition series in Season 16 in 2013. Zendaya was partnered with Valentin Chmerkovskiy and placed second, with the mirrorball trophy going to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough.

In a new interview with EW’s The Awardist podcast, Zendaya said she has “not watched Dancing With the Stars since I was on.”

“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,” she said. “My grandma loves Dancing with the Stars, that’s her bag. But yeah, I also think it was a very stressful experience. I was like, I don’t think I’m gonna be watching this anymore.”

Zendaya got her start in television, starring on Disney Channel’s Shake It Up in 2010 as Rocky Blue, a background dancer on a local show. Since starring in Dancing With the Stars, Zendaya’s career blossomed into starring in the Spider-Man trilogy as MJ, the Dune saga as Chani, Challengers, and HBO’s Euphoria as Rue Bennett.

In 2020, Zendaya won her first Emmy for her work in Euphoria, and her Dancing With the Stars partner dedicated a social media post to her.

“Nearly 8 years ago I got the pleasure to teach a brilliant young woman how to ballroom dance on @dancingabc,” Chmerkovskiy wrote on Instagram. “After giving it every ounce of our effort we came in second. Devastated by the loss I remember telling her that one day you’ll be winning an Oscar and part of the reason why will be this feeling of defeat you feel right now. A few L’s will teach you lifelong lessons you’ll turn into dubs real soon.”

Chmerkovskiy continued, “It was definitely not said this eloquently nor sound remotely as cool, and it isn’t an Oscar yet, but I always knew you were special. Our season on DWTS, and now your continued success since has brought me ridiculous amount of joy. I’m so proud of you Z! Youngest ever winner of an Emmy for a leading role. You’re a superstar, and always have been! Love you fam to many more wins in your life.”