Joshua Goldman
Joshua Goldman
min read · June 13, 2025 · Entertainment

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Celebrate Zaya's Milestone Graduation

Gabrielle Union (L) and her second husband Dwyane Wade (M) proudly posed with his transgender daughter Zaya Wade (T-R) moments after she graduated from Campbell Hall on Wednesday

SCANDALOUS CELEBRITY NEWS

Gabrielle Union and her hubby, NBA superstar Dwyane Wade, brought the heat as they proudly posed with their 18-year-old transgender daughter Zaya Wade at Campbell Hall's graduation ceremony in downtown LA. The drama-filled event took place amidst ICE raids protests, but these three stole the show!

Zaya, who was previously known as Zion, donned a stunning black and white dress underneath her cap and gown, exuding confidence and sass. Meanwhile, Dwyane beamed with pride as he hugged his daughter, who's set to start astrobiology studies at a mystery college in a Democratically-leaning blue state this fall.

The 18-year-old nepo baby donned a classic cap and gown over a b&w dress for the ceremony held at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown LA amid the ICE raid protests

But what really got our attention was Zaya's half-sister Kaavia, 6, joining the party on the LA Phil staircase. Little did we know that Dwyane had fathered three other kids with different women - Zaire Wade, Xavier Metoyer, and Dahveon Morris (nephew). Talk about a complex family tree!

Gabrielle Union, ever the devoted momager, made headlines in 2020 when she publicly announced Zaya's gender affirmation at just 12 years old. Fast-forward to today, and it's clear that Gabby has been instrumental in helping Dwyane come to terms with his own identity.

In a recent interview, Dwyane opened up about how Gabrielle helped him find his true self: "She was so adamant about telling me that I don't have to look or act a certain way - I can just be me. And, oh my god, I thank her every day for it." Aw, ain't love grand?

The 43-year-old retired NBA star beamed as he embraced Zaya (born Zion), who will begin her astrobiology studies at a mystery college in a Democratically-leaning blue state this fall

But wait, there's more! Zaya turned 18 in May and threw a birthday bash at NueuHouse Hollywood, raising $20 per ticket for her non-profit organization Translatable (yes, you read that right - she's only 18!). It also marked the one-year anniversary of her digital arts initiative designed to empower trans youth of color. The girl is on fire!

Gabrielle gushed about her stepdaughter Zaya: "Your transparency should be studied @zayawade... They say parents are the ones to raise and show their children 'the way,' but you've been the one to show us what true strength, vulnerability, and love really look like." Awkward much?

Zaya's also a social media influencer in her own right, raking in cash from paid partnerships with brands like Chanel, Revolve, Fujifilm Instax, and Uber. Who knew being transgender could be so lucrative?

Dwyane's 23-year-old son Zaire Wade posted a Snapchat video of himself posing back to back with his sister on the LA Phil staircase

The ScholaryNote.com has the scoop on Gabrielle Union's upcoming projects: she'll voice Jett Fillmore aka Black Leopard in Tyree Dillihay's animated basketball film GOAT, hitting US/UK theaters February 13 alongside Caleb McLaughlin, David Harbour, Nicola Coughlan, Jenifer Lewis, Nick Kroll, and Patton Oswalt. And if that wasn't enough, she's also set to appear in Justin Dyck's horror flick The Casket Girls and Meredith Alloway's witchy femme cult flick Forbidden Fruits.

Stay tuned for more juicy celebrity gossip only on thescholarlynote.com!

Wade welcomed Zaya and Zaire during his five-year marriage to high school sweetheart Siohvaughn Funches, which ended in 2007 (pictured with JUSHOOP founder Chris Johnson and his son Isaiah)

Notable alumni of the Studio City private school includes filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, actress Dakota Fanning, her younger sister Elle Fanning, Modern Family alum Ariel Winter, and the Olsen twins

It was Gabrielle who publicly announced Zaya's gender affirmation, at age 12, on February 11, 2020 (pictured) and she's 'instilled such a confidence in my femininity'

Wade - who's currently taking estrogen - recalled to Who What Wear last April: '[Union] was so adamant about telling me that I don't have to look or act a certain way — I can just be me. And, oh my god, I thank her every day for it' (pictured May 29)

On May 29, the outspoken Zoomer transformed her 18th birthday ball at NueuHouse Hollywood into a $20/ticket fundraiser for her non-profit organization Translatable, and MAC Cosmetics donated $100K to the Trans Wellness Center in her honor