Zendaya almost never misses on the red carpet, and her most recent, glam-packed appearance is drawing praise from a legendary actress.
The “Odyssey” star has left a lasting imprint in the fashion world, partnered with stylist Law Roach for about ten years, and with every ensemble she continues to raise the bar.
Zendaya’s ardent supporters and the press alike regularly celebrate her flawless style, a reputation that earned her the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Fashion Icon Award in 2021.
Zendaya drew gasps on the latest red carpet by introducing her shortest haircut to date.
The stunning transformation captured attention from all corners, including the iconic Halle Berry.
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On Sept. 15, the “Catwoman” star offered Zendaya glowing praise via X and, as it happens, she played a part in shaping the look.
Zendaya attended the 78th Emmy Awards on Sept. 14 wearing a custom Prada gown covered in sequins and appliqués. The dress boasted a plunging V-neckline, paired with a Rolex and diamond earrings.
Yet the real star of the night was her ultra-short pixie cut.
The “Euphoria” star has experimented with shorter styles in recent years, trying out mid-lengths, bobs, and bixies (a fusion of the bob and pixie).
But this Emmy-night look marks the shortest iteration she’s ever worn publicly.
According to her hairstylist Coree Moreno, the inspiration behind the cut was a classic pixie reimagined through a modern, editorial lens.
Moreno added that the aim was a “feminine and refined” silhouette with a hint of defiance.
Before the reveal, he teased on “Live from E!: 2026 Emmys” that the cut drew from Halle Berry’s influence.
“She’s debuting a new haircut. It’s better tonight,” Zendaya reportedly said. “She cut it a little bit more, and we’re paying homage to another great African American, beautiful actress.”
In his Instagram Story, he shared an image of Berry wearing a comparable hairstyle and wrote “The original” on it before tagging her.
Berry reposted Roach’s Story to her own account and added a kissing-heart GIF. She later reshared a post he added to his Story from The Zoe Report, which featured a collage juxtaposing Zendaya’s look with Berry’s silver dress from the 2002 Die Another Day premiere.
The following day, Sept. 15, she reposted a nine-second video of Zendaya at the Emmys and wrote, “murdered the night.”
In another repost that compared the two women side by side, she added, “My girl.”
Fans flooded the comments with compliments on Zendaya’s appearance and Berry’s enthusiastic reaction. One commenter joked, “She tryna book that biopic!!”
Another wrote, “That Halle Berry cut on Zendaya?? Oh she understood the assignment BAD.”
Social media users praised both stars while celebrating Zendaya’s respect for those who came before her.
“THIS is how you pay homage. Halle is and will always be that girl,” one comment read. Another added, “She be walking on necks without trying.”
Berry’s iconic pixie helped launch her acting career. She told InStyle that cutting her hair gave her confidence and helped her snag her first role as Emily Franklin on the 1980s sitcom “Living Dolls.”
“When I got this haircut, I felt like my best self. I had no hair to hide behind,” Berry shared. “It was just all me, take it or leave it, love it or hate it. It was who I was.”
She added, “I cut my hair short when I first became an actor and I finally got a job and I think that was because the directors and producers actually saw me. Before that, I had long hair like every other girl like me and I dared to cut it short.”
Berry continued wearing short hair throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, including when she became the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar in 2002.
Thus, Zendaya’s next role could potentially alter the course of her career.
Berry has long praised Zendaya’s work, notably in the 2021 Netflix film “Malcolm & Marie,” which follows a tense argument between a filmmaker and his partner on the night of his movie premiere.
She described Zendaya as “brave” and “wildly beautiful” in the film.
“But she’s not afraid to defy being merely beautiful. I see her as an actress who will strive to exceed her beauty. She isn’t relying on it,” Berry told Variety.
Berry has long stressed that her goal is to be recognized for more than just beauty.
She continued, “She’s working hard as an actor, and she will take risks. I think she will surprise us along the way. And I can’t wait to see all the ways that she will surprise us and prove beauty wrong with her talent.”
Earlier this year in 2026, she spoke again about Zendaya on the Drew Barrymore Show and revealed that she would love to play Zendaya’s mother in a project because she adores her.
my girl ✨👏🏽 https://t.co/3RFFKtqNPi
— Halle Berry (@halleberry) September 15, 2026
