Zaya Wade Adorably Freaked Out During a Call With Her "Idol" Michelle Obama
Zaya Wade was so excited to talk to her idol, Michelle Obama, during a call about Obama's memoir Becoming.
- In a video Q&A, Dwyane Wade's 13-year-old daughter, Zaya Wade, interviewed her "idol," former first lady Michelle Obama.
- "I'm meeting an idol. I'm literally meeting an idol," Zaya gushed during the interview, in which the two women discussed the young reader version of Obama's best-selling memoir Becoming. "[I've been] preparing for this moment for so long."
- Zaya asked Obama for her advice for teen who "want to be themselves and thrive" and both women urged viewers to push themselves out of their comfort zones.
Zaya Wade is everything. All on her own, the 13-year-old, who is the daughter of NBA star Dwyane Wade (and, of course, stepdaughter of the amazing Gabrielle Union), is the kind of human you just naturally look up to, even if she's multiple decades younger than you. Seeing Zaya encounter one of her own role models, though, is next-level.
On Thursday, the teen shared a virtual Q&A she recorded with former first lady Michelle Obama, about the young reader version of her memoir, Becoming. And spoiler alert: It was adorable.
A post shared by Zaya Wade (@zayawade)
A photo posted by on
"I'm meeting an idol. I'm literally meeting an idol," Zaya gushed at the start of the interview. "[I've been] preparing for this moment for so long."
Zaya didn't spend the entire conversation in fangirl mode, however (just another reason to look up to her—how many adult humans could keep their cool in a conversation with Michelle Obama?), and dove into some serious questions for her hero.
"What advice do you have for teens who want to be themselves and thrive like you have and currently are?" Zaya asked.
At this point, Obama rightly pointed out that Zaya, who is already doing a great job of being true to herself, is a great role model for other teens. "Well, like you have and currently are," Obama replied. "I am just so proud of you, you know, being just an amazing role model and embracing your truth."
Obama did eventually get into her own advice for teens looking to find themselves and embrace who they're meant to be.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
"It does take time to know what yourself is, for young people. So, my first piece of advice is be patient with yourself, No. 1," Obama shared. "At your age, or in the teenage years and probably through your 20s, you're gonna be experimenting with so many versions of yourself, right? All young people are trying on different versions, different voices, they're learning more about their intellect, they're learning about what they love, what they're good at, what they like. This is the period of exploration."
During the Q&A, the women also discussed the importance of pushing yourself out of comfort zone and Zaya dropped the following bit of pure wisdom: "We all think we that we thrive with people who are just like us. Getting a different perspective from someone else who isn't like you really helps. And that definitely helped me in becoming me and defining my truth."
We would watch a full-length movie that was just Zaya Wade and Michelle Obama talking. Who's with us?
RELATED STORIES
Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
-
'Dune: Prophecy' Shows the Bene Gesserit's Rise to Power—Meet the Next Gen Actresses Leading the Max Series
And if you need a refresher on House Atreides and Harkonnen lore, we've got you covered.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Prince Andrew's "Anxiety is Through the Roof " Amid Royal Lodge Battle
The royal "is generally very lost," a source claims.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Nicole Kidman Addresses the Popular Meme Referencing Her Divorce From Tom Cruise
"That wasn't real life."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Barack Obama Reacts to Daughter Malia Dropping Her Last Name Professionally
He's a proud dad.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Hailey Bieber Shares Her First Photo of Baby Son Jack Blues Since Giving Birth—See the Sweet Shot
So freaking cute.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
Actors Who Are Nothing Like Their Most Iconic Characters
Talk about awards-worthy, transformative performances.
By Katherine J. Igoe Published
-
The Question on Everyone's Lips: Did Beyoncé Skip the 2024 MTV VMAs?
It's been a few years since she last graced the carpet with her presence.
By Kelsey Stiegman Published
-
Why Isn't Selena Gomez at the 2024 VMAs?
Her absence became even more noticeable after her bestie Taylor Swift showed up.
By Hanna Lustig Published
-
Jennifer Lopez Thought Ben Affleck Was a "Changed Man" But Being Married to Him Was "Impossible"
"Friends think he is selfish, sullen, impossible to please most of the time and negative."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Malia Obama Drops Her Famous Last Name Professionally, Opting to Go by This Moniker Instead
She clearly wants to set herself apart from her powerhouse parents as she forges a career in Hollywood.
By Rachel Burchfield Published
-
What Does Power Mean in 2023?
Who defines power? Who gets to be powerful—and who doesn't? This year, we asked 29 noteworthy voices of our time to weigh in on the state of influence. This is what they had to say.
By Marie Claire Editors Published