Zendaya's Sister Tried to Get in Touch with the Star After Being Diagnosed with Cancer – Inside Their Relationship

The famous actress's older sister once admitted that Zendaya made her feel like just a regular admirer. These days, she avoids mentioning that the Disney star is her sibling.

Zendaya is the youngest of six and gets along well with most of her siblings. However, the Hollywood A-lister is reportedly not close with one of her half-siblings.

Latonja Coleman and the Emmy-winning star are half-sisters through their father, Kazembe Ajamu Coleman. Latonja is Kazembe's daughter with former high school partner Michelle Mackintosh.

After their relationship ended, Kazembe had five more children — Katianna, Annabella, Kaylee, Austin, and Julien — with his second wife.

He later entered a relationship with Claire Stoermer, and they welcomed Zendaya in 1996. Unlike Latonja, the siblings from Kazembe's later relationship have often appeared on Zendaya's social media, suggesting a closer bond.

Although Latonja remains in contact with some of their mutual siblings, she acknowledges that she does not have a connection with the youngest among them — Zendaya.

She revealed that during a difficult time in her life, she tried to reach out to the California native but was shut out, "I tried to get in touch with Zendaya when I was diagnosed with cancer, but [family members] slammed the door on me."

Latonja explained that she faced her illness alone, going through chemotherapy without comfort or encouragement. "I just want to know why Zendaya wasn't there for me," she stated. She believes that her younger sister was never informed about her cancer diagnosis, though she is certain the actress eventually found out.

Latonja feels overlooked as a member of her father's first family and described herself as the "black sheep." In her view, the children born after her were given more attention, while she was left out.

She claimed her father favored the others and blamed him for her lack of a relationship with Zendaya. According to Latonja, the family pushed her aside. Her siblings showed no concern for her, and in return, she no longer cared about them.

Still, despite everything, Latonja expressed affection for her famous sibling, "[...] Zendaya is different. She's my sister, and I love her no matter what."

Though pain and distance have shaped their relationship, Latonja's feelings for the Golden Globe Award winner remain unchanged. In October 2024, she posted a screenshot of a direct message on Facebook, expressing her desire for a simple connection.

"[...] I just wanna talk to my sister and say hi. I don't want a [expletive] thing from her," said Latonja. She questioned why it was such a problem for her to greet her sister and have a conversation. She also asked why others were trying to keep them apart.

Moreover, in a recent interview, Latonja shared that she has seen Zendaya only once in the past seven years. Living in Roseville, California, the celebrity’s sibling — who attended Technical High School — recalled that their last meeting took place during Thanksgiving in 2018.

They briefly reunited again at their grandmother's funeral in January 2025. However, that encounter at the funeral left Latonja feeling even more distant from her half-sister. She recalled approaching Zendaya, only to be met with a one-armed hug that made her feel more like a stranger than family. "It felt like I was just a fan," she expressed.

Latonja also pointed out that while the former child star is present in the lives of her other siblings' children, her own grandchildren have never met the 28-year-old and only recognize her from the Disney Channel.

Over time, Latonja has stopped mentioning their connection. "I don't even tell people anymore that she's my sister," she admitted. She expressed shame over the way their father raised the family and further emphasized that her intentions have nothing to do with money.

According to Latonja, she simply wants to be part of Zendaya's life, to show love and support, and hopes to contribute in any way she can to her younger sister. Although her relationship with the "Challengers" star remains strained, Latonja holds no bitterness when it comes to her sibling's personal life.

She expressed genuine happiness over Zendaya's engagement to Tom Holland, sharing that she first met him in 2018. Latonja described the movie actor as "really, really cool" adding that the family thinks highly of him.

In addition, she noted their noticeable height difference, calling them "an odd couple," but added that aside from that, she believes he's the one for Zendaya. However, Latonja acknowledged that because of the ongoing tension within the family, she would probably not receive an invitation to the wedding.

According to sources close to the couple, Holland proposed to Zendaya sometime between Christmas and New Year's in a quiet, personal setting inside one of her family homes in the United States.

The moment was kept low-key, without a crowd or grand gestures. Family members were not present, as it was a private occasion shared only between the two. The couple started dating in 2021 years after meeting on the set of "Spider-Man: Homecoming."

While Zendaya's engagement was a private affair, it comes as no surprise to those familiar with how she handles her personal life.

Though close to both of her parents, the award-winning star rarely discusses family matters in public. After news surfaced that her mother had filed for divorce from her father following eight years of marriage, Zendaya addressed the headlines by sharing a photo of her parents on X.

She explained that her parents had not been together for a long time, but the public was unaware because the family kept things private and her mom and dad remained on good terms.

Zendaya's admiration for her parents began early in life, shaped in part by their careers in education. Her mother, Stoermer, worked as a school teacher, which sparked the star's respect for learning and a desire to help others.

She once shared that if she had not pursued acting, she would have become a teacher without hesitation. Her father, Kazembe, also taught before becoming her manager.

With both parents in the education field, Zendaya explained in an interview that academics were always taken seriously in their home. She recalled getting into trouble in second grade after failing several spelling tests.

That strong foundation in education and discipline stayed with Zendaya as she entered the spotlight. Even after rising to fame, she credited her parents for helping her stay grounded. During an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," she acknowledged their influence, saying she was fortunate to have parents who taught her values she carries through every part of life.

The Hollywood star further expressed deep gratitude, giving credit not only to her mother and father but also to her entire family. Her strong sense of gratitude for family includes not only her parents but also her siblings.

Zendaya has openly expressed her admiration for her three older sisters — Katianna, Annabella, and Kaylee — as well as her two older brothers, Austin and Julien. While she credited her father for his strength and described her mother as a "sheroe," she revealed that one of her older sisters had the greatest influence on her early years.

"I look up to my big sister and realize the influence she’s had on me and making me a better person," the star said. Over time, she came to understand how essential a close-knit family is.

Her love for the younger members of her family has remained constant over the years. Although Zendaya's siblings tend to stay out of the public eye, she has often shared her strong connection with her nieces and nephews.

The movie star shares a particularly close bond with her niece Ezenia, known as "Zink," who is Julien's daughter. The two once appeared in a Teen Vogue video where they played a word association game while getting matching manicures.

In an interview, Zendaya described Zink as the person she felt closest to, mentioning that they often spent time together, talked freely, and enjoyed impromptu dinners. She also brought two of her young nephews as her guests to the "Spider-Man: Homecoming" premiere and later attended the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards with one of her nieces.

Her sister Katianna, affectionately called "Kizzi," has three daughters. During her early career on the Disney Channel, Zendaya often babysat them. In March 2017, she arranged a birthday visit to Universal Studios for Kizzi and her daughters.

Although she was too ill to join, she thanked the park on Instagram, saying her niece had the best Harry Potter birthday and that she earned "major auntie points" for the thoughtful gift.

Zendaya's rise from a grounded upbringing to global stardom has always been influenced by her close-knit family, even amid personal rifts. While her bond with some relatives remains distant, especially with her half-sister Latonja, she continues to honor the values instilled by her parents.

Her deep love for her siblings and devotion to her nieces and nephews reflect the strong family ties that matter most to her. Despite fame, she remains rooted in the relationships that helped define who she is today.

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