Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union are very protective of their kids. Back in 2020, their daughter Zaya was just 12 when she came out as transgender. Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union moved heaven and earth to shield her from scrutiny—relocating the family from Florida to California. The 3x NBA champ also has a strict rule for his daughter when it comes to social media. However, the Bring It On actress recently shed light on Zaya’s sneaky actions online.

Earlier in 2023, Zaya was granted an official legal gender change by the court. During this time, the family battled severe criticism. For Zaya, the 3x NBA champ had a solution. All the way back in 2022, he put in certain restrictions on her social media. Behind the scenes, Wade instituted firm rules: he left Zaya’s comments enabled only for approved followers, explaining, “We’ve decided not to allow the hate.”

Her current Instagram settings remain private. However, Union, in her latest May 7 interview for Marie Claire, shared that she spotted a questionable account that seemed to know her a little too personally. The Riff Raff actress did some research and realized it could be Zaya’s unknown personal account. Gabrielle Union revealed it all for a Marie Claire feature

She said that her public instagram account is only for business purposes.“No one knows what her personal page is. I didn’t know until I saw a comment. I was like, That person knows me! I did a little digging and I was like, Is this you? I have a feeling very soon it’s going to either be something that she just wants to do or she’s going to be moving on to something else. If you see her in the wild, you’ll see her in the wild,” she said.

Union stressed that this stealth account reflects Zaya’s need for autonomy. “It’s not that I don’t understand the passion around social media—I get it,” Union said. “But we are a public family, and there are clear boundaries about what we share of Zaya. No one even knows her personal page”—an admission that emphasizes both the Wades’ vigilant parenting and the curiosity of a teen forging her own path.

Today, Zaya’s primary Instagram remains private, comments off to the public, yet Wade himself leaves his comments on, preferring to “read what people are thinking.”

“I actually enjoy sometimes, actually reading some of the comments just to see, you know, where people’s minds are,” Dwyane Wade said. That balance of protection and exposure speaks to how the family negotiates public life: firm rules at home, but a respect for Zaya’s evolving independence every time she slips away to post “in the wild.”And well, Zaya has indeed been great at handling it all. Union’s latest revelation on Zaya’s school teachers’ notes tells a lot.

Gabrielle Union details teacher’s emotional note to praise Zaya

In March 2024, Gabrielle Union’s stepdaughter Zaya Wade earned a rare accolade in the classroom—her teacher began writing her progress report with tears in her eyes. Union recounted on The View that her daughter’s educators gushed, “I’m actually crying as I’m writing this. You are such a pleasure in class. You add so much to the school community.”

At the time, Zaya, then 16, was a junior at a Los Angeles-area public high school. She shared the campus with her half-sister, Kaavia, who was in kindergarten. Union explained that during Kaavia’s lunch break, Zaya would slip into the cafeteria to sit with her sister, quickly becoming “a celebrity” among the youngest students.

“And so during Kaav’s lunch, Zaya comes and hangs out with Kaav. And this is really special that they’re at the same school, at least for one year,” he said. It says a lot about the bond the two sisters share. The parents, as much as the siblings, deserve credit for fostering it. In her May 2025 People cover story, she noted that Zaya’s kindness and leadership extend well beyond the classroom:

“[Zaya’s] teachers tell us she’s compassionate, curious, and always checks on classmates who are struggling.”

Union has gushed over the 17-year-old heading off to college this year and mentioned her interest in astrobiology. While she’s excited for Zaya’s next big chapter, she also expressed concern about not being able to help her with her subjects once she’s in college. “[She’s] an astrobiology major. So we can’t help with that. We haven’t been able to help with homework since the fourth grade, but we’re excited for next year,” she told People.

While the parents might not be able to help with her subjects, it’s the bond that matters. And Zaya has a deep one with both. During her interview with Seventeen, she shared that she watched Heartstopper with her dad, while she and Union love their high school gossip. “Me and my stepmom love to dish the dirt and tap into the high school gossip. She gets excited for me when I’m like, ‘Oh, I like this person,’” Zaya said.

As Zaya prepares to major in astrobiology this fall, that emotional note remains a beacon of her ability to connect, inspire, and uplift. No Dwyane Wade privacy setting required!