There are those who follow celebrity trends, but there are those who redefine those trends and do it quietly, when everyone else is trying to figure what those trends once were. Zendaya represents that second type of celebrity. In terms of your question regarding Zendaya as a tomboy or just a victim of a crazy internet rumor — you’re going to want to buckle up for a fun conversation.
She Said It Herself
To get to the point, Zendaya is quoted as saying “When I was younger, I enjoyed the experience of dressing up but I was a huge tomboy growing up so most of the things I wore came from the boys section of Target.” So, yes. This is factually proven. Zendaya, a woman who now turns heads on the red-carpet dressed in custom couture, used only to wear from the boys section at Target and honestly, this energy will always be present in her personality.
That’s why it’s so interesting to talk about Zendaya in 2026. Instead of throwing away her tomboy way of life when she took on stardom, she has manifested her tomboy into something much larger.
The Boy Section to Balmain Pipeline
It is surprising that the fashion industry conveniently forgets about the continuity of Zendaya’s fashion journey — she has had a connection to menswear since her days on Disney Channel, when she was wearing patterned blazers and pants to today, wearing beautifully designed, high-end suits. This cannot be a coincidence but a natural progression of a young woman who has been comfortable in menswear her whole life, and never apologised for that aspect of herself.
I mean just take a minute to reflect on how unusual that is within the context of most young celebrity females in today’s world; most teenaged females are forced into extremely feminine, aesthetically pleasing attire. Instead, Zendaya’s stylist Law Roach supported and encouraged her natural style instincts and wants. Her love of androgynous clothing started in her early years; there is nothing new about the pink Valentino suit, fitted jackets and pants, or even the outfits inspired by tennis. They were simply the styles of a young girl who did not care about which department the clothing was located in.
What Being a Tomboy Actually Means in Fashion
Chat about the use of the term “tomboy” as a label to box others has gone on for far too long. Zendaya is an ideal example of a person who doesn’t fit into that box. Being a tomboy does not mean only wearing loose-fitting clothing or never wearing heels; rather, being a tomboy is to have an awareness of the world that includes items of clothing that are not deemed appropriate for your physical appearance. In one sentence, she identified herself as “a little bit of a tomboy” and mentioned her love for Christian Louboutin at the same time. Both descriptions are valid and point to the fact that those things can coexist.
Gen Z understands the nuances of this to the greatest degree of all generations. You can be a sneaker lover and wear a silk gown: a lover of oversized hoodies as well as a wearer of floor-length Schiaparelli dresses — all at the same time. Fashion does not need to be a singular item, and Zendaya has been an ambassador for that concept for far longer than #fashion or #genz are considered to be relative concepts.
2026 Zendaya and What She’s Teaching Us Right Now
Fast forward to today, and Zendaya is set for a huge year. Four major films are on deck for her in 2023 — The Odyssey, The Drama, Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Dune: Part Three, plus Euphoria Season Three will be returning to air as well. And through each press tour she does with Law Roach, they are showing precision in their appearance for each event.
The way she is still showcasing the tomboy aesthetic in her current style is interesting. Recently, she arrived at LAX in beautiful The Row trench coat, a white linen skirt, and classic black loafers. Simple and chic — no fuss. They are purposely doing these looks to be seen as authentic rather than needing recognition from others. In fact, this method of styling is very tomboy-esque: less about trying to impress others and more about how you feel about your outfit.
She said once, “Fashion has allowed me that freedom. I mean literally, the only opinion that is important when you are leaving the house when you are wearing something — when you are looking in the mirror at yourself wearing something — is your own.” And that is the entire point there.
Why This Matters for How You Get Dressed
Here at itismandystyle, Discussing fashion is such a great opportunity to get introspective and gain insight about yourself. A prime example of this is Zendaya — she was a tomboy in California before becoming a worldwide fashionista — and she represents the idea of no longer dressing for anyone but yourself.
I see lots of girls from the boys’ section at Target who add their fathers’ old blazers to their outfits with simple ballet flats, for example. Many girls are starting to realize that they don’t fit comfortably into either “feminine” or “masculine” boundaries; they are simply wearing whatever feels comfortable to them. They aren’t doing anything wrong; they are simply mirroring Zendaya’s style and lifestyle (minus a stylist budget).
Some girls may have an extremely feminine approach to how they dress. This is also acceptable. This is why there is no right or wrong way to wear clothing.
The Future of Dressing Like Yourself
Zendaya is so relevant to today’s current culture as of 2026 because she embodies what the fashion industry is still slowly catching up to: authenticity does not have a silhouette. During her acceptance speech at the CFDA Fashion Icon Award, Zendaya shared: “Every time I get dressed, I think of it as a movie-making process. Each time I dress, I am creating a new main character; one with its own story, past and personality, and allowing my shy child-who-wants-to-be-all-of-those-characters live out her dream through that character.”
That is not a tomboy statements. That is not a girly-girl statements. That is someone who found freedom in wearing clothes. Period.
So is Zendaya a tomboy? Absolutely. But she is also a fashion icon, a method dresser and a Louis Vuitton ambassador who can wear six-inch Jimmy Choos to the Met Gala. All of these things are true at the same time. Maybe one of the biggest style lessons that she has taught us is that you do not have to stay in one lane. You can be all of them. You can be none of them. You can create something brand new entirely.
That is the energy that we are channeling into the remaining weeks of the year 2026.
