15 Times Zendaya Was The Smartest Person In The Room

Happy birthday, Zendaya! She turned 19 on September 1. Zendaya first came to our attention on Disney Channel shows like Shake It Up!. At 16, she was the runner-up on the sixteenth season of Dancing With the Stars.

More recently, however, the multi-talented performer is turning out to be a voice of her generation. She's using her fame to speak out about social issues, cultural appropriation, and more. A lot of people learned Zendaya's name after Giuliana Rancic's Fashion Police gaffe, which Zendaya handled with grace and maturity far beyond her years.

It's hard to believe what Zendaya has accomplished and spoken out about before reaching the age of 19, but when you consider what a force this young woman is, it's actually not at all. Here's a look at all the times Zendaya was the smartest, sassiest, and savviest person in the room. We can't wait to see what she adds to this list when she hits the big 2-0 next year.