“I looked at her and said, ‘You are a leader’…” once said Dwyane Wade about Zaya, his daughter. And rightly so, Zaya Wade has emerged as a powerful force in both fashion and social activism. As the daughter of basketball legend Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union, she grew up in the public eye. Though she has carved out her path, without picking her father’s profession, Wade is still proud and has provided her with all the support from childhood. Well, how could he not? After all, despite being 17 years old, she has no short list of accomplishments under her belt.

She has been featured in major publications like Vogue and Teen Vogue, attending high-profile fashion events and collaborating with top designers. Her bold, gender-fluid fashion choices challenge norms and redefine beauty standards. She has even walked the runway for Miu Miu. Moreover, she has worked with top brands like Puma and Warby Parker and has even earned a 2024 Out100 Groundbreaker award. And guess what? Most recently, she even became the latest cover star of Seventeen! What more do you have, Zaya?

However, while there are many things that Dwyane Wade must be proud of about his daughter Zaya Wade, it appears that one particular achievement sticks out the most for the NBA Legend. In a recent Instagram story, he shared a post by Seventeen. Wade revealed that Zaya is not only successful in her endeavors in the fashion industry but also very gifted academically. Wade wrote, “@zayawade What I’m proudest of most is Zaya has maintained a 4.0 gpa for her entire life”, an impressive achievement to say the least.

He also tagged Seventeen and praised them, stating, “Y’all Rock”. The post shared four pictures of the Wade father-and-daughter duo along with one picture of them with Gabrielle Union-Wade! The caption announced, “Being iconic runs in the family. ICYMI, Zaya Wade is Seventeen’s latest cover star. Read her cover story at the link in bio!”. That aside, it appears that Zaya understands the importance of education in shaping society. While she openly speaks about the plight of her community, it is important to be well read to influence others for the better. No doubt, such high motives fueled her, which helped her achieve such results.

Dwyane Wade’s daughter opens up about her bond with Gabrielle Union

During the interview with Seventeen, Zaya Wade opened up about some advice that caused a huge change in her perspective. One of the biggest influences in Zaya’s life is her stepmom, Gabrielle Union. Trust, laughter, and unconditional support form the foundation of their relationship.

During Seventeen’s “17 Questions” segment, Zaya shared the best piece of advice Gabrielle ever gave her: “Block out all of that hatred because none of it matters at all.” At first, she didn’t fully get it, but over time, it became a guiding principle. “It took a long time for me to really understand what that meant, but here I am,” she reflected.

But their bond isn’t just about deep talks—they have plenty of fun, too. Zaya admitted that she and Gabrielle love to gossip about high school drama, saying, “Me and my stepmom love to dish the dirt and tap into the high school gossip.” And while she adores Gabrielle, she couldn’t help but playfully call her out on her dance videos. “She does them tastefully,” Zaya joked, “but I want to text her so badly and be like, Girl.” Here’s what Gabrielle Union had to say about Zaya’s statement about her TikToks.

Beyond the laughs and inside jokes, Gabrielle is always in Zaya’s corner, celebrating her wins and lifting her up every step of the way. Their relationship is proof that family isn’t just about DNA—it’s about love, support, and showing up when it really counts.