You probably think you know Zendaya. Between the high-fashion red carpet walks, the Emmy wins for Euphoria, and the high-profile relationship with Tom Holland, she is basically the internet’s favorite person. But there is this whole other side to her life that honestly doesn't get enough play in the tabloids. Most people assume she’s an only child because of how she carries herself or maybe because she’s the only one in the family who caught the acting bug.
Wrong.
Zendaya is actually the youngest of six. She has five older half-siblings from her father Kazembe Ajamu Coleman’s previous relationship. We are talking about a full house. She’s the "baby" of the family, and if you listen to her interviews closely, that dynamic shaped exactly who she is today. It’s kinda wild when you think about it. While she’s out here being a global icon, her brothers and sisters are mostly living totally normal, low-key lives away from the flashing lights of Hollywood.
Who exactly are Zendaya and her siblings?
Let’s get the names out of the way first. You’ve got three sisters—Katianna, Kaylee, and Annabella—and two brothers, Austin and Julien. They share a father, but Zendaya is the only child born to Kazembe and Claire Stoermer. This specific family tree matters. It means Zendaya grew up with "built-in" role models who weren't impressed by fame.
Actually, she’s talked about this before. She looks up to her big sisters specifically. In a 2015 interview with Time, she admitted that she constantly looks to them to see how she can be a better person. It’s not about the career for her; it’s about the character. She sees them as grounded, "real" women who deal with real-world stuff like parenting and careers that don't involve movie sets.
Growing up in Oakland, California, the vibe was very much centered around community and family. Her parents were both teachers. That’s a big deal. It’s why she’s so articulate and why her siblings aren't out here chasing clout on TikTok just because their sister is famous. They have their own lives. They have kids. Zendaya is an aunt many times over, and she takes that job way more seriously than most people realize.
The sisters: Katianna, Kaylee, and Annabella
The bond she has with her sisters is intense. She’s described them as her heroes. Think about that for a second. Most starlets cite Meryl Streep or Beyoncé as their heroes. Zendaya points to the women who raised her.
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Katianna, often called "Kizzy," is someone Zendaya has credited with being a major influence on her personal style and her outlook on the world. These women aren't walking the Met Gala steps. They’re at home, being moms, being professionals. Zendaya has often posted snippets—though rarely tagged—of her nieces and nephews. She once told Vogue that being an aunt is one of her favorite things because it keeps her tethered to reality. When she goes home to Oakland, she isn't "Zendaya the Superstar." She’s just the little sister who probably needs to help with the dishes or watch the kids.
It’s a stark contrast to the typical "stage parent" or "fame-hungry sibling" narrative we see with other celebrities. There’s no Keeping Up With the Colemans happening here.
The brothers: Austin and Julien
Then you have the brothers. Austin Coleman is perhaps the one people might recognize the most because he’s occasionally popped up in the background of things, but even then, he’s a ghost in the media. Julien, or "EZ" as he’s sometimes called, is also part of that tight-knit circle.
They are protective. Naturally.
Imagine being the older brother of one of the most famous women on the planet. You’d probably be pretty guarded too. There was a moment years ago where a certain internet troll made a comment about Zendaya's parents, and the way the family handled it was pure class. They don't engage in the messy stuff. They just show up. They show up to the premieres, they sit in the back, and they go home.
Why the privacy works for the Coleman family
In an era where every celebrity sibling is trying to launch a lifestyle brand or a podcast, the Coleman siblings’ silence is actually their biggest flex. It shows a level of security that is rare. They don't need her fame to validate their existence.
Honestly, it’s probably why Zendaya is so sane.
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- They provide a "no-fly zone" for Hollywood nonsense.
- They remind her of her roots in Oakland.
- They give her a space to be a regular person.
If you ever see her at a basketball game or a random spot in her hometown, she’s usually surrounded by these people. They are her human shield. Not from the fans, necessarily, but from the ego-stroking that usually destroys child stars.
Addressing the "half-sibling" label
People get weirdly hung up on the "half-sibling" thing. In the Coleman house, that distinction doesn't really seem to exist. Zendaya has never used that terminology in a way that creates distance. To her, they are just her brothers and sisters. Period.
This is actually a pretty common dynamic in many families, but in the context of celebrity, people love to look for drama. They want to find the "secret" tension. But there isn't any. Her father, Kazembe, has worked as her manager/bodyguard for years, and he’s been the bridge that keeps everyone connected. He’s very much the patriarch of a large, blended, successful Black family.
The fact that they all get along and support each other is almost "boring" to the media, which is exactly why you don't hear about them every day. Drama sells. Stability doesn't. And Zendaya and her siblings are, by all accounts, incredibly stable.
The influence of her nieces and nephews
Zendaya is obsessed with her nieces. She’s mentioned that seeing them grow up makes her think about the world she’s leaving behind. This influenced her roles, too. She wants to be someone they can look up to. When she takes on a project like Euphoria, which is heavy and dark, she’s very aware of the conversations she’ll eventually have to have with the younger generation in her family.
She’s even joked about how her nieces think she’s cool, but they also aren't afraid to roast her. That’s the beauty of a big family. You can have a billion dollars and an Oscar, but your niece will still tell you your outfit looks weird.
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What we can learn from Zendaya’s family dynamic
There’s a real lesson here about boundaries. Zendaya has mastered the art of being "seen" without being "known." She gives us the work—the movies, the fashion, the red carpets—but she keeps the family dinner table for herself.
Her siblings have played a massive role in that. By staying out of the limelight, they’ve given her a safe harbor. If they were all trying to be influencers, her "brand" would be much noisier and probably a lot less respected.
Instead, they’ve chosen a path of quiet support. It’s a rare thing in 2026. Everything is content now, but for the Colemans, family isn't content. It’s just family.
Actionable insights for fans and creators
If you’re looking to follow the Zendaya model—whether you’re a rising creator or just someone trying to manage a digital presence—there are a few takeaways:
- Protect your inner circle. You don't owe the internet a look at your private life or your family members who didn't sign up for the fame.
- Identify your anchors. Zendaya’s sisters are her anchors. Find the people who will tell you the truth, even when you’re successful.
- Value the "boring" stuff. The fact that she goes home and plays "auntie" is what keeps her from burning out like so many other young stars.
- Differentiate between "half" and "whole." In terms of family loyalty, those labels often don't matter. Focus on the relationship, not the technicality of the lineage.
- Stay local. Even though she lives in a world of luxury, her heart and her family are still very much tied to the Oakland energy. Keeping that connection to your roots prevents the "Hollywood bubble" from forming.
Zendaya and her siblings are a blueprint for how to handle massive, global fame while keeping your soul intact. It’s about knowing which doors to leave open and which ones to lock tight.
To really understand Zendaya, stop looking at her filmography and start looking at the way she protects the people she loves. That’s where the real story is. She isn't just a star; she’s the youngest of six who happened to make it big, and she’s making sure she brings that grounded, big-family energy into every room she enters.