Suffering Backlash, Dwyane Wade’s Daughter Zaya Shuts Down Haters With Powerful Message

“She’s a hero,” DWade said of his daughter once. At 12, Zaya first confided in Gabrielle Union, fearing to even speak to her dad. She came out as transgender back in 2020, and since then, her parents have been her biggest supporters. Not only were Dwyane Wade and Union criticized, but Zaya herself faced online attacks. From fearing to open up to her father to becoming a powerful speaker for other teens, the 17-year-old has come a long way. Above all the criticism, she sent a strong and inspiring message to those watching her.

Back then, Zaya’s stepmom, Gabrielle Union, shared a video on her social media to introduce her eldest, “Meet Zaya. She’s compassionate, loving, whip-smart, and we are so proud of her.” From building her confidence to teaching her to be proud of being kind, the Bring It On actress has always supported Zaya. Her father fought tooth and nail with his ex-wife, Siovaughn Funches, to ensure that Zaya was granted her name change and legal transition.

Yet online harassment persisted—Wade even disabled comments on Zaya’s Instagram in September 2022. As her parents protected her and made every effort to ensure her safety, Zaya, too, has flourished in her career and education, taking long strides! At just 17, she has been featured in several renowned magazines such as Seventeen, DAZED, and more.

She didn’t let the online trolls stop her from achieving her dreams. As she turned 18 this May 29, the 18-year-old joined All The Smoke, where Dwyane Wade lauded her resilience and strength, the 18-year-old reminded listeners to never let wrong criticism stop them.

“At the end of the day, you’re the one looking at yourself in the mirror, nobody else. So do what you need to do, not what other people need you to do,” she said.

She refused to let it derail her momentum. Having modeled for Tiffany & Co.’s new all-gender bracelets, Zaya made her runway debut back in 2023, walking for Miu Miu at Paris Fashion Week. Clad in all Miu Miu, she was featured in Miu Miu’s campaign for their fall/winter collection.

Both Dwyane Wade and Union are proud of their daughter. As their parenting choices have drawn attention, gaining mostly praise but also criticism, the actress has remained unwavering in her beliefs, as she shared in a recent interview.

What did Gabrielle Union say about her parenting? 

The actress has always stood confidently for what she believes in. When responding to critics of her parenting style, Union made it clear that her love for Zaya is unwavering and unconditional. During her interview for Marie Claire’s Motherhood issue, the actress shared that she, too, is learning a lot when it comes to parenting. She leans on the knowledge of experts.

“People talk about my parenting decisions. Loving my kid unapologetically out loud? Not putting someone out? The bar is on the damn floor…There’s not a manual. I leaned into love and then asked questions—whether that be doctors, child psychologists, people who have lived experience—I’m leaning into that,” she said.

She doubled down in a BuzzFeed interview. Union urged parents to “believe our kids when they tell us who they are,” and condemned unsolicited criticism as harmful to family bonds. At the 2023 NAACP Image Awards, where she and Dwyane received the President’s Award, Union spotlighted Zaya’s courage and stressed the NAACP’s role in defending Black trans lives: “We honestly don’t approach this work as activists or leaders as much as we do this as parents—parents who love our children and will do whatever the hell we can to keep them seen and secure and safe.”

In another interview, Union proudly shared about the notes from Zaya’s school teacher that praised the 18-year-old for her achievements and impact. Zaya is an advocate for LGBTQ+ teens and was honored as a groundbreaker at the Out100 event in December 2024. While she loves modeling, Zaya is also focused on her education. She and the Miami Heat legend also launched Translatable, which is a digital platform designed to offer LGBTQ+ youth a safe and supportive space to express themselves. Together, the Wades continue to make a positive shift.