Beauty AND brains! Zendaya offers up eight pieces of sage advice about all things hair, make-up and self-confidence in eye-opening new interview

  • Zendaya, 19, is the face of hair care brand Chi's new #REALisBEAUTIFUL campaign
  • The brand chose her because she is both a beauty icon and a role model for women 
  • The star sat down with Pop Sugar to discuss the campaign, confidence and why Kim Kardashian's 'signature' braids are rightly controversial

By Sarah Ferguson For Dailymail.com

Published: 16:53 EST, 16 March 2016 | Updated: 17:39 EST, 16 March 2016

If Zendaya Coleman's path as a performer doesn't work out (though it seems like it most certainly will), the singer/actress could have a second career as a motivational speaker. Seriously, at just 19-years-old, the young talent is wise beyond her years.

After the approximately 12 minutes that FEMAIL heard the singer speak at the recent launch party for her#REALisBEAUTIFUL campaign for hair care brand Chi, we felt both uplifted and newly confident in the hair we were born with.

A sampling of the former Disney star's empowering words: 'It's okay to be in love with yourself. That doesn't mean it is arrogant or cocky, or that you're selfish. You're supposed to love yourself! It's okay to love your features, your body...that's my number one piece of advice.'

See what we mean? 

Role model: Zendaya, 19, was chosen as the face of hair care brand Chi's #REALisBEAUTIFUL campaign not only because she's a beauty icon, but also because she inspires women both young and old

Role model: Zendaya, 19, was chosen as the face of hair care brand Chi's #REALisBEAUTIFUL campaign not only because she's a beauty icon, but also because she inspires women both young and old

Look pretty in pale pink for Spring

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There's no use in speculating what Zendaya will wear next. She can seamlessly switch from menswear suiting one minute to flirty separates another to pieces that are downright drool worthy like this number right here.

It helps when you're a natural beauty but it also helps when you're wearing a couture piece by Ulyana Sergeenko with Anne Sisteron jewelry.

The whimsical Russian designer understands classic silhouettes like none other. She accentuates curves in all the right places-- like this bodice-hugging dress on Zendaya that showcases her feminine hips.

The pale pink color combine with the Victorian-inspired embroidery is lovely and sweet, youthful and dewy, which is exactly how we want to look all Spring and Summer long.

As with all couture pieces, Zendaya's dress is one of a kind but why not take a look at some of our pretty in pink options below?!

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This admirable characteristic of hers is the reason that Chi chose Zendaya, who is also a face of CoverGirl, for the campaign, which features the star working it in a range of hairstyles including natural curls, sleek strands and retro waves.

'Chi is thrilled to be partnered with her and together share the message with women to embrace who you are, because the real you is beautiful,' said Basim Shami, the brand's CEO and owner.

Proving again that she's a role model for women of all ages, Zendaya recently sat down with Pop Sugar and shared sage advice about hair care, having fun with beauty and building confidence.

Here, we break down eight important beauty lessons we learned from the interview.

Campaign star: To promote the campaign, the star sat down with Pop Sugar and shared sage advice about building confidence and taking care of your hair

Campaign star: To promote the campaign, the star sat down with Pop Sugar and shared sage advice about building confidence and taking care of your hair

1. Experimenting with your hair helps build confidence.

'Hair has allowed me to experiment and have fun. That made me more dependent on what I like, what I want, and not listen to or care at all about other people's opinions of what I look like and how I feel about myself.'

2. Rule breakers are fantastic sources of fashion and beauty inspiration.

'[I'm] inspired by Cher and Bianca Jagger - people who I think have made pivotal fashion moments. Maybe at some point, they were not even accepted, but they made statements in the fashion world. Also people who just do what they want. [My stylist Law Roach and I] create our own versions of those things.

3. Styling your hair starts with taking care of it.

'It's about how you protect against the heat damage, what you put on your hair before, how you moisturize and take care of it before, and how you restore and balance everything after. That is definitely why I wanted to work with Chi. When I sat down with them, they told me about the different sciences and how much work goes into creating these products that are effectively helping with hair damage.

They have this argan oil section - that's for me. I shampoo every other day and only do the roots. I can't shampoo all the way down to the end, because it will dry my hair out. I use a mask multiple times a week to restore moisture.'

Letting her hair down: In the campaign, Zendaya wears a number of different hairstyles including her natural curls (pictured here) 

Letting her hair down: In the campaign, Zendaya wears a number of different hairstyles including her natural curls (pictured here) 

Switching it up: The Something New singer says that she looks to rule breakers like Cher and Bianca Jagger for fashion and beauty inspiration

4. Don't be afraid of a little hair gel.

'[Chi Styling Cream Gel] is not like the old-school gels, which were crunchy and disgusting. With a cream gel, you can run your hands through it and it will break up. It just helps with the definition, so that you can eliminate frizz and actually have curl.'

5. Taking off your make-up is the most important part of any beauty routine.

I always start off with good skin. I will say that my number one thing is make sure you take off your make-up before you go to sleep. Make sure you wash your face good, because if not, [the make-up] will sit in your pores. It is just bad. 

[I use] make-up wipes. Boom, done. It's easy, simple.'

6. A swipe of highlighter makes you 'feel good'.

'I love adding highlights because you're just like, 'Boom!' It just feels good. In the CoverGirl Roses TruNaked Eye Shadow Palette, there are two highlighter colors. One is a little more matte and one is super shimmery. I actually use that as a highlighter. So you can double up, and don't have to spend extra money, girl.'

7. Chapped lips are a no-no.

'I can't do chapped lips. If your lips are jacked up, Aquaphor is always a good go-to. You can put it on baby rashes and baby diapers. I've used it literally since I've been in diapers for my butt and now I use it for my lips. If you want a little color, try the CoverGirl Oh Sugar! lip balms. I really like them, because you can moisturize and also have a little tint. Not too much, just a little dab.'

8. The cornrow braids that Kim Kardashian has been sporting recently are not a trend.

'Braids are not new. Black women have been wearing braids for a very long time. We've been using that as a protective style, as a hairstyle. Another problem is it became new and fresh and fun, because it was on someone else other than a black woman. You know what I mean? So that is the frustration. That's where the culture appropriation element comes into play.

I don't know if there is an appropriate way [for celebrities like Kim Kardashian to wear them] - that's not something I can answer.'

Read the full interview here.

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