Let’s address the giant (or not-so-giant) elephant in the room—Zendaya and Tom Holland’s height difference. Is it really a towering issue or just a molehill being made into a mountain? The actress, standing tall at 5’10”, and her boyfriend, a statuesque 5’8″, have been lighting up both the screen and social media timelines as Tinseltown’s beloved couple.
Yet, why are we so fixated on their height difference? This topic has reached dizzying heights (pun intended), with society seemingly obsessed with the idea that men must always be taller than their female counterparts. Earlier, Zendaya revealed that when they first met for their Spider-Man auditions, she had her own worries about the height difference.
It’s like arguing about the best kind of pizza toppings—it just doesn’t make sense.
Love Knows No Height: Inspired by Zendaya & Tom Holland
When these Spider-Man lovebirds first auditioned for their respective roles as Peter Parker (Tom Holland) and MJ (Zendaya), little did they know that their romantic heights would be under such scrutiny. Since the debut of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2017, fans have had plenty to say about their height disparity. However, the two stars haven’t lost sleep over the matter.
Zendaya, who is 5 feet 10 inches (via IMDb), and Holland, who stands at 5 feet 8 inches (via IMDb), have a bit of a height gap that sometimes has fans looking up—literally and figuratively. The actress, who is often accentuated by high heels, doesn’t see what all the fuss is about. In a 2021 SiriusXM interview, she quipped:
This is normal, too. My mom is taller than my dad. My mom’s taller than everyone.
However, when she first joined the Spider-Man franchise, she had her own apprehensions about how their height difference would play out. The actress recounted to Variety in 2017:
He says when we first met it was super awkward because he went for a handshake and I went for a hug. But I don’t remember that. I thought it was cool.
She had a fleeting fear of looking ridiculous next to Holland but was relieved when they did their auditions seated. She admitted:
I was worried I’d look ridiculous, but then… there were chairs.
Holland chimed in with his own take:
There were chairs. I think they probably knew you were taller than me though.
Zendaya added with a chuckle:
I didn’t tell them my height. I wasn’t like, ‘Hey, I’m Zendaya, I’m 5’10’’…But it all worked out, and I think our height difference is one of the cool things about us.
And Holland, ever the supportive partner, said, “I absolutely love it.”
It’s clear that their height difference hasn’t cast a shadow on their relationship.
The Heartwarming Reasons Tom Holland Loves Zendaya
Zendaya and Tom Holland have made headlines not just for their blockbuster performances, but for their off-screen romance, which shows that a few inches here or there aren’t enough to shake their bond.
Holland, in particular, often gushes about how Zendaya has positively impacted his life. He confessed in a 2021 interview with Backstage:
She was so helpful in the process of my life-changing… You have a responsibility to kind of uphold this idea of being a role model to young kids. And, arguably, she’s the best at that.
So, apparently, Zendaya is not only a superhero on screen but off it as well! In a 2021 interview with GQ, the Uncharted star, 28, echoed his admiration, saying:
Having her in my life was so instrumental to my sanity. She is so good at being the role model for young guys and girls.
Clearly, while fans may keep their measuring tapes handy, this adorable couple is busy proving that love doesn’t come with a ruler.
And, if you’re planning a date and debating whether to don those extra-high heels, remember: in love, it’s not the height of your heels but the depth of your feelings that truly matters. After all, love is the great equalizer, and for Zendaya and Holland, it’s all about the love—no matter how many inches apart they might be.