At the post-premiere celebration of her new film 'Challengers' on April 16, Zendaya captivated attendees with a striking transformation into a neon, tennis ball-themed gown designed by Celia Kritharioti. The event, held at Funke in Beverly Hills, saw the 27-year-old actress stepping out of her premiere look—a sophisticated Vera Wang ensemble—into something more playful yet equally glamorous.
Zendaya's afterparty attire paid tribute to her role as Tashi, a tennis prodigy, featuring a halter top with a daring plunging neckline and a dramatic thigh-high slit. The design was highlighted by a unique tennis ball detail positioned at the lower end of the gown’s V-neck, emphasizing the sporty theme.
Styled by Law Roach, Zendaya complemented her look with sparkling diamond earrings and her hair elegantly styled up in a chic bun. Roach showcased the dazzling transformation on Instagram, where he posted a video of Zendaya twirling in her custom gown, captioning it "@celiakritharioti custom Tennis ball dress."
This wardrobe change followed her appearance at the film’s premiere earlier that evening, where Zendaya walked the red carpet in a Vera Wang dress that combined a black lace and satin corset bodice with a soft pink satin skirt, subtly deviating from the 'tenniscore' fashion narrative she has adopted during the Challengers promotional tour.
Earlier in the promotional circuit, Zendaya embraced the tennis theme at the UK premiere with a white sequin Thom Browne dress adorned with tennis rackets, and a graphic green gown in Sydney that featured a tennis-playing figure.
The LA premiere of 'Challengers' was also a star-studded event, with celebrities like Tina Knowles, Cynthia Enviro, and tennis legend Venus Williams gracing the red carpet, further celebrating the intersection of cinema and sports.
