Fashion & Style: Zendaya Shuts Down Paris Fashion Week With Legendary All Black Cast for Her Tommy Hilfiger Show

It's easy to be cynical about a giant fashion collaboration with a big mass brand. From the astronomical budget and relentless branding to the crush of people backstage, the whole thing can feel like a heart emoji replaced an actual heart.

Enter Zendaya, an American Sweetheart for Gen Z, with her doll-perfect features and her famously take-no-sh*t attitude when it comes to speaking her mind. On Saturday night in Paris, she presented her first #TOMMYNOW collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger, with enough heart to make the whole audience (including Gigi Hadid, Tyra Banks, and some very excited French teenagers) stand up and dance.

But it turns out, the 22-year-old star was cynical, too-at least at first.

"Tommy called me," she said backstage in Paris before the show. "I didn't really believe it [was him] at first. Tommy Hilfiger on the phone? And he said, 'Look, if you do a show with me, you can have

whatever you want and do whatever you want. Go nuts. If you have a vision, tell me, and we'll execute it together.' And then," she laughs, "I really didn't believe him!"

After some coaxing from her creative partner and stylist Law Roach, she decided to give it a try, telling Hilfiger, "I want to make a show inspired by the women who made it possible for me to be in the position where I am now. Honestly, I just wanted to say “thank you” to them through this show. I said to Tommy, 'If we do a show, this is what it needs to be about.' And Tommy said, 'Great. Go for it.' And he actually meant it. I mean, look."

She gestured to the runway cast-59 black women, ages 18 to 70-including some of the women of color Zendaya wants to thank for their contributions to fashion, Hollywood, and beyond. Pioneering models Beverly Johnson and Veronica Webb walked the show, along with Pat Cleveland, who said backstage, "Zendaya talked to me about the Battle of Versailles, about Studio 54 and the '70s and '80s... she really wanted somebody who had been there and lived it on the runway. In a way," she grins, "I think this show is really based on the story of my life." She also hinted that maybe Zendaya herself will play Pat Cleveland in a movie based on her autobiography. (YES, PLEASE.)