The Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade and his family have been garnering public attention since his daughter Zaya Wade came out as transgender. Dwyane Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union have been giving unconditional support to their daughter ever since. Apart from her identity, Zaya Wade has also been making news as an up-and-coming model. Achieving one milestone after the other as a rising model, Zaya revealed that she owes a lot to her parents in her career.

Recently, the law granted Zaya the right to change her name and gender. Prior to that, she bagged an endorsement deal from Puma. Moreover, earlier this month, Milan Fashion Week saw Zaya’s debut as she walked for Miu Miu. Now, the 16-year-old has added another feather to her cap and has revealed that she got life-changing lessons from her stepmother Gabrielle Union.

Where does Zaya get all the inspiration from?

Zaya Wade was recently featured on the cover of the style magazine Dazed. This is her first magazine cover and is an achievement her peers can only aspire to. Following this, Zaya has revealed that she is tremendously influenced by her parents and their fashion sense. At a day and age when beauty standards are constantly redefined, Zaya told how her stepmother Gabrielle Union has taught her beauty standards are arbitrary.

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“The lesson has changed over time, but more recently, it’s that beauty is in yourself. It’s about being you and expressing yourself the way you want to. [Gabrielle Union-Wade] tries to teach me that beauty standards are arbitrary and that they don’t mean anything,” she says, “They don’t matter any more; what people thought was the standard is not. And just that being myself is the best technique out there,” Zaya told Dazed in the cover story.

There is no doubt Zaya was deeply influenced by her parents’ dressing style. However, as a rising model, she has imbibed Union’s lesson and presents herself in such a manner that she asserts her identity and individuality. “As time has passed and I’ve become more integrated into the fashion world, it’s become a really important part of expressing myself and my identity,” Zaya said to Dazed.

Zaya through the ups and downs

Even while beauty standards are constantly redefined and the fashion industry has become more inclusive, society is yet to completely shed prejudices against transgenders and other gender minorities. Ever since she came out, Zaya was subjected to hatred and transphobic taunts on the internet. However, since fashion spaces have become inclusive, she has been able to ward off the negativity.

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Zaya is sure that she is not fighting her battles alone. Her parents have constantly been supporting her in her journey. Ranging from coming out to achieving new milestone in the fashion industry, the star couple are having their daughter’s back.