Zendaya Reflects on DWTS Season 16 Loss to Kellie Pickler

It has been more than 10 years since then Zendaya compete on Dancing With The Starsbut she is still upset about the final results of her term.

The actress, 28, famously competed on season 16 of the ABC competition series in 2013. After a season full of high scores, she and her partner, Val Chmerkovskyeventually lost to Kellie Pickler a Derek Hough.

“Listen, I still harbor a little animosity for that,” Zendaya said In a Magazine in an interview published on Friday, January 3. “I felt that loss. I was only 16, and it was very stressful.”

Competing on live TV every week was something Zendaya told the outlet was “so scary,” adding, “I took it seriously, and in retrospect, I wish I hadn’t. I wish I had enjoyed it a bit more and I was like, ‘Eh, whatever.’ You know what I mean? But I was stressing myself. I went through it on that (show).”

Zendaya went on to point out that she doesn’t watch these days DWTS despite being on it. He made the first revelation in an interview on “The Awardist” Podcast. last year, sharing that she haven’t tuned in since her season.

“I haven’t watched Dancing With The Stars since I’ve been on it,” he said in October 2024. “I didn’t really watch Dancing With The Stars before I was on Dancing With The Stars. I don’t think I was the target demographic. My grandma, like, loves it Dancing With The Stars. That’s her bag.”

He continued: “I also think it was a very stressful experience. I was like, ‘I don’t think I’ll be watching this anymore.'”

Zendaya’s regret over the results of season 16 is something she shares with Chmerkovskiy, 38, who has since gone on to win the mirrorball trophy three times with previous partners. Rumer Willis, Laurie Hernandez a Xochitl Gomez.

“My biggest heartbreak was on Dancing With The Starsnot winning with Zendaya, honestly. That was a huge heartbreak for me because she was 16,” he told sight360 Entertainment Tonight in March 2018. “I wanted this to be such a huge moment for her. She worked so hard, and I really wanted her to pick up that trophy and start her career. And she didn’t pick up the trophy and I felt heartbroken about that.”

Fortunately, as Chmerkovskiy said, Zendaya’s time is on DWTS “Jump-started her career.” He added: “That’s when you learn that it’s not always about winning or losing, it’s really about learning through the process and then using those tools to stretch yourself down the road.”

Before DWTSZendaya was best known for her roles on Disney Channel Shake It Up. In the decade since, she has become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars with projects like The Greatest Showman, Challengersthe Dunes series and the Spider-Man franchise.

Back in 2020, Chmerkovskiy took to Instagram to congratulate Zendaya on becoming the youngest actress to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Euphoria (an award he also took home in 2022).

“I always knew you were special. Our season on DWTSand now your continued success since then has brought (a) ridiculous joy to me,” he captioned a clip from one of their performances. “I’m so proud of you Z! Youngest ever Emmy winner for lead role. You are a superstar, and always have been! Love you mom many more victories in your life.”