June 9, 2026, 12:15 p.m. ET
Much of Gen Z may be image-obsessed, but many seem to aspire to a certain kind of notoriety.
According to a June Yahoo/YouGov poll, a surprising star topped the list of provided celebrities young adults under 30 want to be like.
Against figures including Elon Musk, Taylor Swift, LeBron James, MrBeast, Beyoncé and Kylie Jenner, Gen Z adults chose Zendaya as the celebrity they most want to emulate by a healthy margin at 13% of respondents. None of the other celebs broke double digits.
Despite spending the majority of her life in the spotlight and transitioning from a child star of the early social media era to a globally recognized movie actress and fashion icon, the former Disney star and “Euphoria” alum is also known for embodying a sense of old-school fame, deliberately keeping her personal life out of the headlines.
Case in point: The 29-year-old actress has been famously private about her relationship with husband Tom Holland. She has yet to publicly confirm their marriage months later (maybe even years, who but Law Roach knows?).
Still, 10% couldn’t think of a celebrity, and 36% said they wouldn’t model their lives after any celebrity.
Gen Z may be pulling away from fame obsession, poll finds
Another poll question asked Gen Z adults about their career goals, with many respondents seeking non-famous paths. Of the provided list:
- 18% wanted to be a successful but non-famous tech entrepreneur
- 17% wanted to be a respected intellectual or professor
- 14% wanted to be doctors
Just 5% of respondents wanted to be influencers or digital creators, just ahead of the number of people who wanted to be lawyers, at 3%.
It’s a noted shift from previous thinking, with Yahoo pointing out that more than half of Gen Z respondents said they wanted to be influencers in a 2023 Morning Consult poll. The shift could also be seen in the generation growing tired of influencers and swearing off smartphones for a life less chronically online.
