Gabrielle Union Shares Why Her Teen Stepdaughter Zaya Has Her & Dwyane Wade ‘Stressed Out’ & It’s So Real

If your child has never stressed you out, you’re lying. Even the most patient humans can get annoyed with kids every now and then — and for the rest of us, it happens pretty much daily. But the reason Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade are “stressed out” about Wade’s daughter Zaya, 16, is actually so sweet!

The Idea of You producer told Entertainment Tonight that her stepdaughter has been going on college trips, which is causing some anxiety in the Wade-Union house.

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“I think she is so calm about it ’cause I think she knows exactly where she wants to go, but I think she’s humoring us with seeing what our country has to offer,” Union dished about Zaya. “We’re stressed out. We’re stressed out about her being away from us … [Parents all have the] same nerves and anxieties about sending your babies away. It’s tough.”

That is tough! And she’s right, because her and Wade are far from the only celebrities dealing with the stress of their kids going to college.

Once Zaya does choose a school, though, Union hopes that she can excel on her own. “She wants to major in astrobiology, so there’s only so much help we can offer, to be honest …” she explained. “I was a Sociology major, [so I’m like,] ‘Girl you’re on your own.'” Dang! Look at Zaya breaking stereotypes and proving that models can be super smart, too!

The Bring It On alum isn’t just sending Zaya out into the world with nothing, though. She’s been teaching her some valuable life lessons, including those surrounding beauty. In a March 2023 interview with Dazed, Zaya shared the lessons Union has taught her about inner beauty.

“It’s about being you and expressing yourself the way you want to,” Zaya said. “She tries to teach me that beauty standards are arbitrary and that they don’t mean anything. They don’t matter any more; what people thought was the standard is not. And just that being myself is the best technique out there.”

She added, “[My family] is such a giant support system and have always been there for me. No matter what happens, I feel strongest when I’m with them.”

With a bond like that, Union doesn’t have to worry about Zaya going to college. These two are going to stay close, no matter what!

Before you go, check out these celebs who are close with their stepkids.

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