Zaya Wade made her first red carpet appearance on Saturday night at the 2020 Truth Awards in Los Angeles. The 12-year-old’s father Dwyane Wade and stepmother Gabrielle Union recently revealed to the world that Zaya is trans. All three of them walked the red carpet together in matching outfits.
“Everyone allow her to re-introduce herself her name is Zaya Wade!” Dwyane wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of Zaya. “Last night was Zaya’s first red carpet and we couldn’t have been prouder of how she handled the questions that were asked of her. She has emerged as one of the young faces and voices for the LGBTQ+ community.”
Zaya wore a custom suit by Richfresh, featuring a bright green jacket with black flared pants and a pink diagonal stripe detail. Dwyane and Gabrielle both wore matching black-and-white suits with green and pink underneath.
View this post on Instagram
The Truth Awards were a fitting occasion for Zaya’s red carpet debut. The awards highlight the accomplishments of the Black LGBTQ+ community and its allies. The trio took to the stage to explain why they were there: “It was really important for Zaya’s first red carpet to be celebrating Black excellence in her community,” Gabrielle told the audience.
The debut comes a few weeks after Dwyane revealed Zaya’s gender identity and new name during an appearance on “Ellen.”
“Zion, born as a boy, came home and said, ‘Hey, so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I am ready to live my truth. I want to be referenced as ‘she’ and ‘her.’ I would love for you guys to call me Zaya,'” Dwyane said at the time.
He added that he and Gabrielle worked hard to educate themselves so they can “give our child the best opportunity to be her best self.” At the Truth Awards, Dwyane revealed that they specifically reached out to their good friends, a gay couple, who are now Zaya’s self-chosen godparents. They “helped us navigate the right language to use, the questions to ask and what to listen for,” Dwyane told the audience. Zaya was just 8 years old at the time.
Now 12, Zaya is already an LGBTQ+ icon in her own right. She’s lucky to have such supportive parents right by her side!
View this post on Instagram
What Do You Think?