Zendaya makes Emmy history as the youngest lead actress in a drama winner


She has gone a long way from her Disney channel days

Zendaya accepts the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for "Euphoria." Photo by Invision for the Television Academy

First-time nominee Zendaya has made history by becoming the Emmy’s youngest lead actress drama winner.

The 24-year-old actress won for her role in HBO’s high school drama Euphoria, which is loosely based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name. In the show, the former Disney star plays Rue Bennett, a teenage addict struggling with her recovery.

Many netizens may be familiar with the Euphoria beauty trend, which is what I call all the glitter and shimmering eye makeup looks inspired by Euphoria that could be found all over Instagram and YouTube tutorials. Delving deeper into the actual content of the show, you will find a beautiful yet tragic story that masterfully approaches issues of teenage identity, addiction, and trauma.

This is the second year in a row that the category went to a young, fresh face. Last year, then 26-year-old Jodi Comer became the youngest lead actress drama winner for her role on Killing Eve.

Zendaya was well known to younger audiences for her role in the Disney Channel sitcom Shake It Up as Rocky Blue and as the titular character in K.C. Undercover. She gained greater prominence after entering the Marvel Cinematic Universe as MJ Jones in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and played opposite fellow Disney alumni Zac Efron in the hit musical film The Greatest Showman.

This is the second year in a row that the category went to a young, fresh face. Last year, then 26-year-old Jodi Comer became the youngest lead actress drama winner for her role on Killing Eve.

If it happens once, you could say it is a fluke. But these record-breaking wins two years in a row goes to show that when you have the talent, matched with hard work of course, age is truly but a number.