In this special episode of The Timeout, Dwyane Wade, Bob, and Chris Johnson are joined by Zaya Wade on her 18th birthday. The crew celebrates her journey from a high-achieving student to an entrepreneur, model, and advocate. Zaya shares how she manages ADHD and a spatial visual disorder while excelling academically, and opens up about her decision to step away from sports to pursue a path that reflects who she is.
Zaya dives into her work and experience learning to lead a team and manage finances—describing it as tough but transformative. She also talks about her modeling career, including major campaigns for MAC and Chanel, and how those opportunities helped build her confidence. The heart of the episode is Translatable—a safe, online community she launched for queer youth—born out of her own journey and the kind of support she wished she had growing up.
Zaya and Dwyane reflect on the power of unconditional love and visibility, especially for LGBTQ+ youth. To celebrate both her birthday and Translatable’s anniversary, Zaya is hosting a MAC-sponsored kiki ball, aimed at joy, freedom, and community.
Support LGBTQIA+ Youth and their Families:
https://www.translatableproject.com/
Music Credit: Khari Mateen.
What We Discussed:
- 00:00 Introduction
- 02:12 Sports Zaya Play
- 07:18 Prom, Next Chapter, 18th Birthday
- 15:03 Zaya Wade: Confidence In Knowing My Path
- 17:15 Education On What LGBTQIA Stands For
- 21:15 Dwade On Knowing & Understanding Zaya
- 30:36 Battling ADHD In School & Running A Business
- 53:23 How Translatable Came To Be
- 1:05:35 Love & Acceptance
- 1:09:14 Zaya Wade On Recent Modelling Campaign
- 1:14:20 Zaya's Translatable Ball
- 1:21:39 Special Message From Zaya
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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