Envisioning Girlhood with Zaya Wade

      In 1969, the extraordinary Nina Simone presented the world with a timeless anthem—a vibrant battle hymn for generations. "Young, gifted and Black. Oh, what a lovely precious dream," she sings, her smooth voice soaring alongside the booming brass and drums. Released in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement, this song became a celebration of the limitless potential of a newly liberated generation of Americans. During that time, no aspiration seemed too ambitious, and no limit seemed insurmountable. Although Simone passed away before Zaya Wade was born, one can't help but think she would be singing this song for Wade as well.

      At just 17 years old, Wade has the world at her feet—she's a model, a professional jet-setter, and one of the most prominent advocates in Gen Z for the transgender community. It's a lot for any typical American teenager to handle, especially with the pressure of college applications and standardized testing that Wade is also managing as a high school senior. As the second semester begins, she can almost taste graduation, yet unlike many students who might simply coast through their remaining time, Wade is just getting started. With college on the horizon this fall and her pursuit of a career in astrobiology (more on that later), she is also leading her arts-focused nonprofit, Translatable.

      When I connect with Wade via Zoom, she’s comfortably settled in her childhood bedroom, dressed in sweatpants and in the middle of her 10-step skincare regimen. It’s a Monday night, and right after our chat, she will dive into tutoring. It appears there's never a break in her schedule. As she discusses her favorite lip gloss and shares her fears about the open sea ("When I learned in second grade that we've explored less than 6% of the ocean, I was like, 'Nope!'"), I’m struck by how "normal" she seems. With parents like basketball legend Dwyane Wade and A-list actress, model, and style icon Gabrielle Union, the term nepo baby doesn’t quite capture her essence. Wade comes from a lineage of Black royalty, yet by all accounts, she embodies the characteristics of any other 17-year-old girl. She enjoys late-night group FaceTime calls, binge-watching Heartstopper with her dad, and daydreaming about what her prom dress might look like. You'll have to wait to see how that turns out. When I ask whether she has dream designers in mind, Wade smiles playfully and mentions that a team is working on something special.

      The idea of girlhood is a privilege not everyone can experience. Black women frequently face intense scrutiny throughout their teenage years, often having their childhoods diminished by society’s narrative that they must quickly abandon playful dresses and dolls to grow up. This reality is even more challenging for Black trans women, who may not have been able to live authentically until adulthood. Wade’s conscious choice to enjoy these treasured moments feels like a quiet act of defiance in a world that has often desired to see her fail. "For 12 years, I didn’t have any sense of girlhood. I didn’t know what it was like," she confesses. In 2020, she publicly embraced her transgender identity. Without warning, Wade was thrust into the limelight, where every detail—her hair, nails, outfits—became subject to a surge of online scrutiny and transphobia. The intensity of it made her want to shrink and hide. "I feel like I’m trying to discover my own version of girlhood," she shares, noting how these years are significant—filled with excitement and optimism for a future she couldn’t have envisioned five years ago. "I didn’t really see that far ahead when I was younger. After my recent experiences, I now possess a hopeful outlook on my life," Wade states. "Honestly, what could be more impactful than being a teenage girl?"

      Now, Wade is reclaiming lost time. Since coming out, she and her family have been ardent advocates for trans and queer rights. At the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, Dwyane Wade and Union delivered an impassioned speech in honor of their daughter. In a moment of what could only be called motherly frustration, Union asked the audience, "Will we fight for some, or will we fight for all of our people?"

      Despite the ongoing demands for justice by Black trans women, the combination of racism and transphobia continues to be overlooked. If they don’t continue to push for change, who will? Wade is keenly aware of this reality—she has always taken up space. A month after Dwyane Wade introduced Zaya during a viral interview with Ellen DeGeneres, the then-tween made her red carpet debut at the 6th annual Better Brothers Los Angeles Truth Awards, which celebrate and uplift the queer Black community. Surrounded by her parents, Wade expressed a sense of purpose but didn’t