Zendaya Says Giuliana's Oscars Dreadlock Diss Empowered Her

One year after Giuliana Rancic's infamous dreadlock diss, Zendaya Coleman reveals how she turned a racist remark into a meaningful mission.

“Rancic's comment empowered me to continue to break down boundaries and to expand the mold of what beautiful is to people,” the 19-year-old told Page Six.

“The incident kind of reassured the fact that what I’m doing, as far as fashion, is bigger than just pretty clothes and going to fashion shows and being cute and getting pictures taken,” the Something New singer said.

As RadarOnline.com reported, Rancic shocked viewers back in 2015 when she said that Coleman, who wore locks with her Oscars gown, must smell because of her traditional black hairstyle. “I feel like she smells like patchouli oil … or maybe weed,” Rancic said on Fashion Police. The comment went on to spark in-fighting among the show's cast, leading to the departure of Kelly Osbourne.