Zaya Wade’s newest milestone is a slam dunk.
The daughter of NBA great Dwyane Wade is officially a high school graduate, and she had her whole family cheering her on as she walked the stage—including stepmom Gabrielle Union, who penned a sweet tribute to the new grad.
“Zaya, you’ve closed this chapter with such grace and courage,” she captioned a joint June 14 post with Dwyane. “Watching you bloom into the brilliant, bold, and beautiful young woman you are has been a true gift. As you step into this next season, we already know you’ll write it with purpose, passion, and power.”
Gabrielle continued, “May college be your canvas—and the world, your masterpiece. Congratulations to the Class of 2025! May all your dreams come true.”
Accompanying the Bring It On star’s tribute was a carousel of moments from the big day, including clips of Zaya walking across the stage to pick up her diploma as well as her receiving this year’s Head of School award to the sound of cheers and applause from classmates and audience members.
Other images included Zaya posing after the ceremony with her proud family, including siblings Zaire Wade, 23, Xavier Wade, 11, Kaavia Wade, 6, and cousin Dahveon Morris, 23.
For her special day, Zaya donned first a long black dress trimmed with white under her graduation gown before changing into a knit, front-button white dress for the after ceremony festivities.
The 18-year-old also made sure to celebrate her accomplishment herself, captioning a clip from the graduation stage, during which she smiles and flashes the audience a peace sign before walking for her diploma, “I did it.”
Zaya’s milestone comes just weeks after marking a similar high school rite of passage: senior prom. The model shared a glimpse of her prom experience in the form of a few black and white images, posing alongside a friend and by herself in a lace and tulle gown.
Proving he’s his daughter’s number one fan, Dwyane couldn’t help but sound off in the comments.
“Love,” the 43-year-old wrote, adding in a second comment, “We love you.”
And it’s that support from her dad that Zaya—who came out publicly as transgender in 2020—is most grateful for.
"As an African American male, to be so openly and outwardly accepting," she said of Dwyane in a Seventeen interview published in February. "Because honestly, him being raised in a traditional Black household in Chicago…the culture there isn’t very queer-friendly. I hope that it will continue to inspire people to allow themselves to learn and understand queerness before bashing it."
For more celebrity kids celebrating graduations this year, keep reading.
This boy is on fire! Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz completed eighth grade at La Jolla Country Day School in San Diego, Calif.
Fiona Facinelli
Darby Dempsey & Sullivan Dempsey
Gable Nealon
It was a modern family affair for Julie Bowen and her husband Scott Phillips when they saw their oldest son graduate from high school.
"The future is yours," the actress shared on Instagram June 11, "but that cigar will definitely make you puke."
Flip or Flop alums Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa's daughter graduated from middle school in June. To celebrate, the exes threw a graduation party with friends and family, including their son Brayden El Moussa and Tarek's wife Heather Rae El Moussa.
Dwyane Wade's daughter received her high school diploma in front of friends and family, including stepmom Gabrielle Union.
"Zaya, you’ve closed this chapter with such grace and courage," the couple wrote on Instagram June 14. "Watching you bloom into the brilliant, bold, and beautiful young woman you are has been a true gift."
But Egypt wasn't the only graduate in the house! Swizz's son with ex-wife Mashonda Tifrere earned his diploma, with the blended family all celebrating the big milestone at his commencement ceremony.
"You are magnificent super magical beings!!!" Alicia wrote to the boys on Instagram June 6. "There’s nothing you can’t do!"
Amid her stage 4 cancer journey, Teddi Mellencamp saw her and Edwin Arroyave's daughter graduate from elementary school.
"Just like that our baby girl is graduating lower school," the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum shared on Instagram June 6. "Off to middle school next year."
Friendly exes Liev Schreiber and Naomi Watts were joined by their new spouses—Taylor Neisen and Billy Crudup, respectively—to see their son reunited from high school.
"What an incredible day," Naomi wrote on Instagram Stories June 5. "He did it!! So so proud."
Nick Cordero would be proud! The late Broadway star's son wore his Rock of Ages costume to kindergarten graduation.
"People often ask how I keep Nick’s memory alive and share him with Elvis," Nick's wife Amanda Kloots explained on Instagram June 4. "This is how—I make sure that Elvis always knows his dad is always a part of his life and that he’s always there."
According to Gretchen Rossi, her and Slade Smiley's little girl is "growing up way too fast."
"She lead the whole Graduation ceremony with a prayer," the Real Housewives of Orange County star shared on Instagram June 4. "She is becoming such a precious sweet young lady and we know a lot of it is because of the hands on care and love she receives from her amazing teachers."
Model Linda Evangelista reunited with her ex François-Henri Pinault to see their son graduate from high school. For the special occasion, the former couple were joined by Salma Hayek, who has been married to François-Henri since 2009.
"Augie!!! We are so PROUD of you congratulations for becoming the extraordinary young man that you are," Salma wrote to her stepson on Instagram June 3. "Congratulations to Linda, Francois and all the parents who got our babies up to this point. Easier said than done."
In June, Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli's youngest daughter graduated from Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles.
"I am so beyond proud of her!" wrote Jennie, who was joined by her ex—as well as husband Dave Abrams and Peter's partner Lily Anne Harrison—for the occasion. "My heart is filled with so much excitement to see her fly!"
Patrick Dempsey's twins with wife Jillian Dempsey looked all grown up at their graduation from Crossroads School in Los Angeles.
"So proud of you boys," the Grey's Anatomy alum gushed on Instagram, "and cannot wait to see where the next chapter of your lives will take you!"
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