She walks into the photographer’s studio in downtown L.A. wearing skinny jeans, a letterman jacket and high tops. The 17-year-old star greets everyone warmly, with a firm handshake, her mother not far behind. Her first outfit on set is a bright, neon yellow dress, with sequins and a flowing, flared skirt. The second is a fitted, formal tux with skyhigh, lace-up heels. From urban casual, to prom glam, to chic menswear. The outfits change. Zendaya stays the same. She exudes an undeniable confidence that comes not from fame, but from fully knowing herself.

And it’s a good thing too, since Zendaya has to wear many different hats in her career. She appeared on the young Hollywood scene in 2010, playing Rocky Blue in the Disney hit show Shake It Up, alongside co-star Bella Thorne (who played Cece Jones), showcasing both her singing talent and dance moves. Last year, when the show was airing its third and final season, Zendaya was also a contestant on Dancing With The Stars—the youngest celeb ever on the show—coming in second place. In the summer, her advice book Between U and Me: How to Rock Your Tween Years with Style and Confidence hit the shelves.

In the fall, she released her self-titled, debut album through Hollywood Records, which followed on the heels of her pop-R&B, Billboard Hot 100 single “Replay.” This past February, Zendaya was the talk of the style world during New York Fashion Week, her photos gracing major fashion blogs and celebrity sites, most notably for a long, yellow and blue Miuniku overcoat stunning enough to stop traffic. And now, she’s gearing up to star in another Disney show, yet to be named, about a girl who finds out her seemingly normal parents are spies and they want her in on the family business.