Dwyane Wade’s Daughter Zaya Wade Details First Year of College

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Zaya Wade is getting candid about life as a college student. 

Dwyane Wade’s daughter recently talked about her experiences in her first year of college, sharing how she’s been adapting to living away from her father and stepmother, Gabrielle Union.

Zaya shared with TopMob News on May 30th that being away from her parents is challenging, but ultimately a positive experience. She explained that it’s been both difficult and liberating, helping her become more outgoing and comfortable socializing. She was speaking at the second annual ball for Translatable, a non-profit she and her father founded to support LGBTQIA+ youth and create a safe environment for them.

She explained that she now feels comfortable starting conversations with anyone, even people she doesn’t know. She believes she’s finally building genuine connections with others, and that’s really what the college experience is all about.

What advice did Dwyane Wade—father to Zaya, 19, and Zaire, 24 (with ex-wife Siohvaughn Funches), Xavier, 12 (with ex Aja Metoyer), and Kaavia, 7 (with Gabrielle Union)—give his daughter before she started her first semester of college?

“My dad told me not to mess it up,” Zaya quipped, “that he is paying tuition, and it is expensive.”

She’s definitely considering her father’s advice, and says she believes she’s acting on it.

But just like any college student, Zaya is still finding the balance between work and play.

She said she’s focused on balancing her studies with having fun and figuring out who she is as she becomes an adult. She’s also working on understanding all sides of herself – how she acts in school, with friends, and as her true self – and making the most of every experience.

Speaking about her well-known parents, she said they always hoped she would fully embrace who she is.

As a lifestyle expert, I’ve always said that open-mindedness is key to strong family bonds, and that really shines through in Dwyane Wade’s relationship with his daughter, Zaya. When Zaya bravely came out as transgender in 2020, Dwyane – who is also a dad to Dahveon Morris – immediately set aside any initial assumptions he had and fully embraced supporting her. It’s a beautiful example of unconditional love and acceptance.

She explained in a February interview with Seventeen that Dwyane’s openness was significant, especially considering he grew up in a traditional Black family in Chicago, where acceptance of LGBTQ+ people isn’t always common.

She expressed her hope that the work would keep encouraging people to educate themselves about LGBTQ+ identities and experiences before judging them.

For a look inside Dwyane and Gabrielle’s best family moments, read on…

In 2019, Dwyane Wade marked the end of his NBA career surrounded by family. His wife, Gabrielle Union, and their daughter Kaavia Wade were there to share the special moment, along with his nephew Dahveon Morris and his children: Zaire Wade, Zaya Wade (from his marriage to Siohvaughn Funches), and Xavier Wade (with Aja Metoyer).

Gabrielle and Dwyane looked like a perfect pair at Halloween in 2023, and their daughter Kaavia celebrated the holiday dressed as Cinderella.

The Bring It On actress snapped silly selfies with Kaavia on Mother’s Day 2023.

In a 2022 photo, Dwyane Wade’s son, Zaire, shared a picture of his dad proudly displaying his jersey from the Salt Lake City Stars, with the caption: “Leave a legacy.”

In January 2023, Dwyane Wade and his wife, Gabby, proudly sent their daughter, Zaya, to her school’s winter formal. Zaya is the daughter of Dwyane and his ex-wife, Siovaughn Funches.

The couple shared on Instagram that being there for each other through life’s important moments is essential. They acknowledged the stress and worry that come with challenges, but emphasized that with the support of loved ones, they face everything head-on and with confidence. They vowed to always be fully committed to supporting each other.

Gabrielle shared a sweet moment on Instagram in 2020, pointing out that her daughter, Kaavia James, had similar hair to her own. She explained that after taking out her braids, Kaavia reacted happily, and now both mom and baby are showing off their natural curls.

The couple’s daughter, Kaavia, first appeared at an awards show—the 2019 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Sports Awards—and she handled it like a natural!

Following a family Thanksgiving celebration, Dwyane Wade responded to negative comments made about him online, criticizing those responsible on Twitter.

I’ve noticed some negative comments online about our family photo after Thanksgiving. I understand there’s always going to be negativity, but I want to clarify that I lead my family, not anyone else. We’ll keep being ourselves and supporting each other with love, pride, and positivity!

Gabrielle rang in her 50th birthday in 2022 with snuggles from Dwyane and Kaavia.

The couple are all smiles as they celebrate Zaya’s 16th birthday in May 2023.

Okay, so when Halloween 2019 rolled around, Gabrielle and Dwyane nailed it. Seriously, they had the perfect family costume idea, and I was instantly obsessed with what they chose for their little girl! It was just… genius. I immediately saved every picture and wished my own family was that coordinated!

And that’s not all! The parents also dressed up as a different theme alongside their daughter, Zaya.

Dwyane praised Zaya amid criticism from online trolls.

He mentioned on the All the Smoke podcast in 2019 that his 12-year-old is actually stronger and more courageous than he is. He believes you can really learn from your children, and in his family, they constantly discuss the importance of both parents truly seeing their kids and helping them understand the power of their own voices.

When Gabrielle was let go from America’s Got Talent in 2019, Dwyane Wade was fully supportive of her. He tweeted, “Men lie, Women lie, numbers don’t,” and explained that over the past year, many people had told him his wife, @itsgabrielleu, was the reason they started watching—or enjoyed—the show because of her honest opinions.

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2026-05-31 21:47