Zendaya Reflects on Her "Stressful" Dancing with the Stars Experience and Why She Doesn't Watch Anymore

Zendaya, who competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2013, opened up about her experience on the show, revealing that she still holds some frustration over her second-place finish. Despite being only 16 at the time, the 28-year-old actress admitted she felt the loss deeply, recalling the stress of performing live every week.

"I felt that loss. I was only 16 years old, and it was highly stressful," Zendaya told W Magazine. "Being on live television every week? It’s so scary."

Looking back, Zendaya wished she hadn't taken the competition so seriously. "I wish I’d enjoyed it a little more," she said, reflecting on the pressure she put on herself. "I was stressing myself out. I really went through it on that."

Although she competed alongside professional dancer Val Chmerkovskiy, Zendaya still feels the sting of losing to Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough, who took home the mirrorball trophy that season. As a result, she admitted she doesn't watch the show anymore.

"I have not watched Dancing with the Stars since I was on," Zendaya said in a previous interview. "I didn't really watch it before I was on either. My grandma loves it, that's her thing."

Despite her disinterest in DWTS, Zendaya does enjoy some reality TV shows, admitting that Love Is Blind on Netflix is a "guilty pleasure," even though she feels bad for watching. "It's brutal. I'm like, 'Dang, you guys know you're on camera?'"

Zendaya isn't the only former contestant to reflect negatively on the Dancing with the Stars experience. Over the past year, several others have questioned the fairness of the competition. Former contestants like Danica McKellar and Antonio Sabáto Jr. have suggested that the show is "rigged," with McKellar calling it "a reality show, not a dance competition."

While Zendaya's time on the show was memorable, it's clear that the experience left her with mixed feelings — and a decision to step away from the spotlight of Dancing with the Stars.