Zaya Wade Details Challenges of Being Away From Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle Union During College
Zaya Wade is getting candid about life as a college student.
The daughter of NBA great Dwyane Wade shared insight into her first year of college, including how she’s been adjusting to life away from her dad and stepmom Gabrielle Union.
“Being away from your parents is hard,” Zaya exclusively told E! News at the second annual ball for Translatable, a non-profit organization started by the university student and her dad to create a safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth, May 30. “It’s really hard but also it’s exciting and it’s fun and it’s freeing and I think I’ve learned to get out of my shell a lot more and be more sociable.”
“And I feel like I can go up to people that I’ve never met and just strike up a conversation,” she added, “and I think I’m just starting to connect with people more and I think that’s what college is about is just connection.”
As for what advice Dwyane—dad to Zaya, 19, and Zaire, 24, with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches, Xavier, 12, with ex Aja Metoyer, as well as Kaavia, 7, with Gabrielle—gave her ahead of starting her first semester?
“My dad told me not to mess it up,” Zaya quipped, “that he is paying tuition, and it is expensive.”
And she’s of course taking her dad’s suggestion seriously, adding, “And I would hope that I am doing that.”
Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images
But just like any college student, Zaya is still finding the balance between work and play.
“I’m just trying to focus on doing my classes but also having fun and understanding more about myself as I’m growing into my individuality as an adult,” she explained. “But really just taking the time to understand the difference between school me and friend me and real me and just really enriching all of my individual experiences.”
She added of her famous parents, “I think that’s what they wanted for me is just to be a more encompassed version of myself.”
That’s also a sentiment that has rang true in all areas of Zaya’s life. After the teen came out publicly as transgender in 2020, she shared how Dwyane—also dad to 21-year-old Dahveon Morris—put his pre-conceived notions aside to support her.
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for GLAAD
"As an African American male, to be so openly and outwardly accepting," she said of Dwyane in a Seventeen interview published last February. "Because honestly, him being raised in a traditional Black household in Chicago…the culture there isn’t very queer-friendly.”
She added, “I hope that it will continue to inspire people to allow themselves to learn and understand queerness before bashing it."
For a look inside Dwyane and Gabrielle’s best family moments, read on…
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
All in the Family
Dwyane Wade celebrated the final game in his NBA career with Gabrielle Union and their daughter Kaavia Wade in 2019. The Miami Heats player was also joined by his nephew Dahveon Morris, his kids Zaire Wade and Zaya Wade (with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches) and son Xavier Wade (with ex Aja Metoyer) for the momentous occasion.
Instagram/Gabrielle Union
Perfect Match
Gabrielle and Dwyane proved they go together like peanut butter and jelly on Halloween 2023. Meanwhile, their daughter Kaavia dressed up as Cinderella.
Instagram/Gabrielle Union
Bring On the Silly
The Bring It On actress snapped silly selfies with Kaavia on Mother's Day 2023.
Instagram/Zaire Wade
Like Father, Like Son
Dwyane's oldest son Zaire captioned this 2022 photo of his dad holding up his Salt Lake City Stars jersey: "Leave a legacy."
Instagram/Gabrielle Union
Teenage Milestones
Dwyane and Gabby send Zaya, who the former NBA star shares with ex Siovaughn Funches, off to her school's winter formal in January 2023.
"Supporting each other for life’s big moments is key," the couple wrote in an Instagram post. "All the nerves, all the anxiety, all the fear… With loved ones by your side, no matter the challenge, we 10 toes down. Always."
"See @kaaviajames mama's got hair like yours," Gabrielle shared on Instagram in 2020. "When I took my braids out she was like... now mom & baby both rocking their natural curls."
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
While attending the 2019 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Sports Awards, the couple's daughter Kaavia made her award show debut. Spoiler alert: She was a total pro.
Instagram / Gabrielle Union
After celebrating Thanksgiving as a family, Dwyane took to Twitter to slam Internet trolls who had some not-so-nice comments.
"I've seen some post-thanksgiving hate on social about my family photo," he shared online. "Stupidity is apart of this world we live in—so i get it. But here's the thing—I've been chosen to lead my family not y'all. So we will continue to be us and support each other with pride, love & a smile!"
Instagram/Gabrielle Union
Snuggle Season
Gabrielle rang in her 50th birthday in 2022 with snuggles from Dwyane and Kaavia.
Instagram/Gabrielle Union
Sweet 16
The couple are all smiles as they celebrate Zaya's 16th birthday in May 2023.
When it was time to celebrate Halloween 2019, Gabrielle and Dwyane knew just the look to pull off with their baby girl.
But wait, there's more! The proud parents also transformed into another theme with their daughter Zaya.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Dwyane praised Zaya amid criticism from online trolls.
"First of all, if you want to talk about strength and courage, my 12-year-old has way more than I have," he shared on the All the Smoke podcast in 2019. "You can learn something from your kids. In my household, man, that's all we talk about. We talk about making sure our kids are seen by each of us, me and my wife, We talk about making sure our kids understand the power in their voice."
Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
Ultimate Defenders
After Gabrielle was fired from America's Got Talent in 2019, Dwyane absolutely had his wife's back. "'Men lie, Women lie, numbers don't,'" he shared on Twitter after the news broke. "Over this past year I've been approaching by many people saying that my wife @itsgabrielleu is the main reason they've started watching #AGT or that they love her insight and sincerity on the show."
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