Zaya Wade, 17, is one of the four children of the former professional basketball player, Dwyane Wade. In 2020, she publicly announced that she is a transgender girl. Formally known as Zion, she started using Zaya instead.
Zaya is a known figure in the LGBTQ community. In regards to that her parents and siblings have supported throughout her journey as a transgender.
Her parents have since divorced and her father is now married to the actress, Gabrielle Union. Zaya and Union have an impressive mother-daughter relationship which has been praised by several media outlets.
Here are 10 Shocking Facts about Zaya Wade
1. Zaya Wade’s Parents Married while in High School Lovers
In 2002, Zaya’s parents Siohvaughn Funches and Dwyane Wade married while they were still in High School. According to reports, Zaya’s father was raised by his father and his mother was away for years. After he started his romance with Funches in high school, ran away from home and went to live with his then-girlfriend’s family.
The former couple later relocated to Wisconsin and enrolled at Marquette University. However, the marriage only lasted for five years as they split in 2007 and in 2010, her parents finalized their divorce.
Zaya was born Zion Malachi Airamis Wade on May 29, 2007 in Miami Florida, U.S. Zaire, her older brother was born on February 4th 2002 during Wade’s sophomore year at the university. Her other siblings are Zaire, Xavier and Kaavia.
2. The 17 year-old was Caught in the Middle of Her Parents Divorce Battle
Following the divorce of her parents, her father was awarded full custody of Zaya and her brother. This was after the former couple had series of lawsuits before the court gave Wade legal custody of his children. But in 2009, he sued his ex-wife for defamation after she made false allegations against him.
According to reports, Wade revealed his ex-wife hired a total number of 13 lawyers for their divorce which made the process longer.
The charges were later dropped and Siohvaughn withdrew the claims she had earlier made. She was also arrested in 2012 and was charged with misdemeanor attempted child abduction after she allegedly refused to return her sons back to their father within the specified time.
3. Zaya Wade Has Four Siblings
Aside from Zaire who is the eldest, Zaya has two other siblings from her father’s marriage and previous relationship. Xavier was born on November 10 2013 at the time Wade and Gabrielle Union took a break from their relationship. Xavier’s mother Aja Metoyer was a longtime friend of his father.
Following a series of painful miscarriage, Gabrielle Union, 52, and Wade, 42, welcomed a Kaavia through surrogacy on November 7, 2018. The couple were previously engaged in December 2013 and got married on August 30, 2014. Kaavia is the most famous of all the Dywane children. She is famous for all her memes and funny looks on social media.
Her father is also raising her cousin, Deanna.
4. At the Age of 12, She Announced Her Sexuality and Changed Her Name
During an interview on The Ellen Show with Ellen DeGeneres, Dwyane Wade shared that Zaya who was 12 years old at that time, came back home and told him she would love them to refer to her as she/her and to also call her Zaya.
Shortly after she had the conversation with her parents, they reached out to people seeking more information to educate themselves about the LGBTQ + community.
Meet Zaya. She's compassionate, loving, whip smart and we are so proud of her. It’s Ok to listen to, love & respect your children exactly as they are. Love and light good people. pic.twitter.com/G2lLVdD2VT
— Gabrielle Union (@itsgabrielleu) February 11, 2020
Upon changing her name, Union, her stepmom took to Twitter and shared news by introducing her with the new name ‘Zaya’.
5. Her Older Brother seem to Have Inherited Their Father’s Basketball Skills
Wade Dwyane’s oldest child, Zaire, 22, seems to be taking after his father’s legacy. He was reportedly offered spots on a couple of college basketball teams. As for Zaya, she has been seen in a golf cart with her father so she might be an athlete too in her own right.
6. Does the 17-Year-Old LGBTQ+ Activist Have a Boyfriend?
According to reports, Zaya shared a picture of herself kissing her new boyfriend, Hudson who is reportedly a transgender as well. The pictures sparked sexuality debates after it went viral on social media.
Read Also: Aja Metoyer Is Dwyane Wade’s Second Baby Mama – 10 Facts About Her
7. Her Birth Mother focused went back to school after she separated from Wade
After the divorce, Funches focused on furthering her education and enrolled in the University of Phoenix where she earned a degree in Psychology. She later got a certificate in counselling from Capella University. Moving on, Funches again went to study law at the John Marshall Law School and graduated in 2014.
She now manages a dispute resolution firm called The Mediation Matters Firm. She also runs a non-profit organization that helps domestic violence survivors. She is also the author of the book, You Gotta Have Faith.
8. Zaya Wade’s Father Had a Troubled Childhood
Born as the second child of JoLinda and Dwyane Wade Sr. His mother already had two children when she married his father. His parents separated when he was only four months and he had to live with his older sister, Tragil.
The former basketball player has revealed that his early childhood was quite difficult and trying. Following his parents’ divorce, Wade and his sister stayed with their mother but she was always in and out of prison because she had troubles with drug addiction.
He and his sister went to live with their father and stepmother. Playing basketball and football helping him stay away from drugs and gangs.
9. Her Father is a Strong Christian
Due to his religious believes, Zaya’s father chose to use the number 3 during his career because he believes it represents the Holy Trinity. According to reports, he gives 10% of his salary to a particular church in Chicago.
Zaya’s grandmother JoLinda was ordained as a Baptist minister in 2007 and she formed the non-denominational Temple of Praise Binding and Loosing Ministry in Chicago. Her father bought a church building for her grandmother’s ministry in 2008.
10. What is Her Net Worth?
Zaya Wade doesn’t have any net worth at the moment. On the other hand, her father reportedly has a net worth of over $170 million dollars. He earned $198 million in salary and several millions through endorsements especially his shoe contracts.
As an ambassador for Hoops for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Zaya’s father is a well known philanthropist.
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