Inside Zendaya’s “Sexy and Sophisticated” Glam for the 2026 Emmys
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After a short break from her summer of red carpet slam dunks, Zendaya is back and serving up another enviable beauty look at the 2026 Emmy Awards.
Tonight, she’s walking the red carpet at the Peacock Theater in Downtown Los Angeles for both business and pleasure: The actor is nominated for outstanding lead actress in a drama series for her role as Rue in the final season of Euphoria, as well as presenting the award for best comedy actress.
Zendaya worked with makeup artist Ernesto Casillas and hairstylist Coree Moreno to create a stunningly natural look. “I was inspired by all the sparks in the dress,” Casillas says of Zendaya’s custom Prada. “The skin got a major boost glow and the eye and lips were directly inspired from late ‘90s red carpet glam.” He calls out the Prada Light Glowing Highlighting Touch Powder—plus two different shades of Touch Blush, Tulip and Cherry—to get the look. “It’s sexy and sophisticated,” he adds.
The final touch of her beauty routine? A spritz of Prada Beauty’s newest fragrance, Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry, a scent the star describes as “sweet without being overbearing.” (Zendaya is the face of the campaign.) It’s a fun bit of synergy for the newlywed, too—husband Tom Holland is the face of Prada’s men’s fragrance, Paradigme. When it came to hair, Zendaya and Moreno kept it simple, styling her pixie straight into a Halle Berry-esque coif.
The entire look is a stark change from the bold lilac shadow and curls we saw earlier this week at a New York Fashion WeekFashion WeekA series of seasonal events where designers debut their latest collections, setting the tone for upcoming fashion trends and showcasing creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation across the global fashion industry.Go to Fashion Week Glossary event. But then again, Zendaya is the ultimate fashion and beauty chameleon, and this is just another hit for the mood boards.
This article was originally published on Vogue.com.