Zendaya (left) and Valentin Chmerkovskiy.Photo:John Shearer/WireImage; Phillip Faraone/WireImage
John Shearer/WireImage; Phillip Faraone/WireImage
It’s been over a decade sinceZendayaandVal Chmerkovskiyjoined forces onDancing with the Stars, and the pair haven’t forgotten about their memorable second-place finish.
Back in 2013, Zendaya, now 28, gave the ballroom dance competition series' 16th season a try atjust 16 years old. She and Chmerkovskiy, now 38, paired up for the full 10 weeks of competition, but ended up finishing as runners up behindKellie Picklerand her dance partnerDerek Hough.
In the years since, Zendaya and Chmerkovskiy have spoken about each other and their time on the show together, with theChallengersstar recently revealing that she’s “still harboring a little animosity” about losing the title at a young age.
Here’s a look back at what Zendaya and Chmerkovskiy have said about their time dancing together outside of the show and in the years since their competitive partnership.
I’m Going to Work As Hard as I Can
Zendaya and Val Chmerkovskiy on ‘Dancing with the Stars’.Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
At 16 years old, Zendaya was the youngest participant to appear onDancing with the Starsat the time of her appearance — before Willow Shields joined the show for season 20 at just 14.
During the second episode of season 16, inbehind-the-scenes rehearsal footage, the actress could be seen meeting Chmerkovskiy for the first time, before she called the undertaking of appearing on the series “scary.”
“I feel like I’m just going to go out there and work as hard as I can, and do my very best,” she said, lter adding, “My biggest fear about being the youngest is proving to everyone that I could be just as good as them.”
As they began to practice their initial routine — a contemporary dance set to One Republic’s “Feel Again” — Chmerkovskiy said he didn’t feel “any of it” had been “easy” for his partner, but that there was “just so much potential in what she could do.”
“With Val, he’s like the perfect balance between tough and nice,” Zendaya added at the start of the series. “It’s a good balance and that’s what I like.”
I’m Working with a Professional
“I thought I was going to be dealing with tantrums all season,” he joked. “No offense. But I’m working with a professional, sincerely professional way beyond her years. And I was dealt a full house this season, obviously.”
Zendaya and Val Chmerkovskiy on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ in May 2013.Adam Taylor/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
It’s Just the Beginning
After weeks of grinding to get the May 2013 finale, Zendaya and Chmerkovskiy ended up finishing as runners up behind Pickler and Hough. At the time, Zendaya had already been a big name for Disney Channel viewers — largely thanks to her work in the hit seriesShake It Up— and attributedDancing with the Starsto opening her up to a new audience in a post-finale interview withABC 7.
“I think this is an incredible platform, you know what I mean? It’s just the beginning of a new start to some things I’m gonna be doing,” Zendaya said. “I feel like, you never look at it as the end or something that’s negative. It’s just a platform for me to continue my music and everything else that I have set up, so I think it’s a great start.”
“Whatever it is in life you’re going for, things happen for a reason and I truly believe that. This has been a way for me to inspire kids and a way for me to reach out to people I never would’ve been able to and that’s the most important thing for me.”
We Gave 150% Every Time
In a May 2013 interview withHuffPost Live, Zendaya reflected on her still-fresh partnership with Chmerkovskiy, explaining that they wanted to give the competition their all.
“I’m a perfectionist and Val, my partner, is also a perfectionist. So we really clicked in that kind of way. And we didn’t want to just put on performances and we didn’t ever want to give half of ourselves. We gave 150% every time. Even when I knocked him out and gave him stitches. He was still working hard and pushing himself. That’s an amazing thing to see as a young lady — to see someone whose working so hard, he’s a good role model.”
At the time, Zendaya shared that she wanted a partner who wasn’t going to be “nice all the time,” something she found in Chmerkovskiy. As she joked, she specifically requested someone who was “tough” and “didn’t like nice people.”
“He definitely pushed me to be better. And he saw something in me. He wasn’t going to let me just stop at ‘OK,’ which I think is awesome.”
Superstar from the Get Go
Zendaya accepts her second Emmy in 2022 for ‘Euphoria’.Chris Haston/NBC via Getty
After Zendaya scored her first Emmy win for Euphoria and became theyoungest winnerof the lead actress in a drama series category, her formerDWTSpartner shared some praise onX (formerly Twitter).
“Let’s go @Zendaya !!! Tooooooo proud,” Chmerkovskiy wrote in September 2020. “Superstar from the get go. #Emmys.”
I Have Not Watched Since
Over adecade after her stinton the competition series, Zendaya toldEntertainment Weekly’sAwardistpodcast that she hasn’t watchedDWTSsince her season.
“I have not watchedDancing With the Starssince I was on,” she said with a laugh in October 2024. “I didn’t really watchDancing With the Starsbefore I was onDancing With the Stars.I don’t think I was the target demographic. My grandma lovesDancing with the Stars,that’s her bag.”
“I also think it was a very stressful experience. I was like, I don’t think I’m gonna be watching this anymore,” she added.
I Felt That Loss
Zendaya attends the 2024 ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Ceremony at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in March 2024.Paras Griffin/Getty
Paras Griffin/Getty
Zendayaelaboratedon herDancing with the Starsthoughts in a January 2025 interviewW Magazine, revealing that she was “still harboring a little animosity” about losing nearly 12 years later.
“I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful,” she said “Being on live television every week? It’s so scary.”
She added that she wishes she “didn’t” take the show as “seriously” as she did at the time.
“I wish I’d enjoyed it a little bit more and just was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that.”
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Dancing with the Starscan be streamed on Hulu and Disney+.
source: people.com
