Zaya Wade has a firm understanding of the role that mental health plays in her life. The daughter of retired NBA player Dwyane Wade and Siohvaughn Funches, and the step-daughter of actress Gabrielle Union, she leads a private existence under the wings of her famous parents.
Celebrity can be excruciating, adding to the complexity of being a teenage Black girl, but Zaya manages it with a warm sense of self and fierce boundaries.
In 2020, Zaya publicly came out as trans, receiving support from her family and being championed by young LGBTQ+ individuals globally.
Showing up in the world as who she is has been fuel for others to do the same. She is uplifting and encouraging generations, while remaining a beacon of positivity for herself.
Read more on essence.com