Gabrielle Union dazzles in colorful gown as she's joined by stepdaughter Zaya Wade at GLAAD Awards

Gabrielle Union and her stepdaughter Zaya Wade made a chic duo as they hit the red carpet at the GLAAD Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The actress, 50, dazzled in a form-hugging colorful beaded dress that showed off her toned arms, and featured a high-neck and a stylish head cap. 

Meanwhile 15-year-old Zaya – who was recently granted a legal name and gender change – looked stylish in a black blazer and shorts, along with white boots and a matching bag. 

While on the red carpet Gabrielle spoke of her support for the LGBTQ+ community and what it meant for her to have Zaya as her date at the event.

‘For her to be able to see so many members of her community – of our community – that she’s looked up to, that have inspired her, that have held her down, had her back, is pretty huge and there’s not too many moments where as a parent I get to deliver that in this kind of way, so I’m pretty thrilled,’ she told Billboard.

Chic pair: Gabrielle Union and her stepdaughter Zaya Wade made a chic duo as they hit the red carpet at the GLAAD Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday

Chic pair: Gabrielle Union and her stepdaughter Zaya Wade made a chic duo as they hit the red carpet at the GLAAD Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday

‘I’m really happy to be here and happy to be a part of sharing the community with my daughter,’ she added.

Gabrielle added height to her stunning look with a pair of open-toe gold heels. She kept her accessories to a minimum, letting her spectacular gown speak for itself, and wearing just a few rings.

The star – who’s married to former basketball star and Zaya’s father, Dwyane Wade, 41 – had picture-perfect glam for the occasion.

She accentuated her eyes with dramatic lashes and wore pink lipgloss on her pout.

Gabrielle also took to her Instagram to share a fabulous clip of her outfit. The Bring It On star was pictured exiting an elevator in the glamorous gown, with Beyonce’s Pure/Honey as her soundtrack.

‘Never too busy to serve #GLAADAwards @glaad’ she captioned the video, which quickly received over 17,000 likes.

Zaya recently made a milestone by appearing on her very first magazine cover for Dazed Magazine.

The budding model opened about various topics, such as how her supportive family ’empowers’ her, as well as valuable lessons that the Bring It On actress, has taught her over the years. 

Stylish: The actress, 50, dazzled in a form-hugging colorful beaded dress that showed off her toned arms, and featured a high-neck and a stylish head cap

Stylish: The actress, 50, dazzled in a form-hugging colorful beaded dress that showed off her toned arms, and featured a high-neck and a stylish head cap

Classy: Meanwhile 15-year-old Zaya - who was recently granted a legal name and gender change - looked stylish in a black blazer and shorts, along with white boots and a matching bag

Classy: Meanwhile 15-year-old Zaya – who was recently granted a legal name and gender change – looked stylish in a black blazer and shorts, along with white boots and a matching bag

Shining: Gabrielle kept her accessories to a minimum, letting her spectacular gown speak for itself, and wearing just a few rings

Stunner: Gabrielle added height to her stunning look with a pair of open-toe gold heels

Shining: Gabrielle kept her accessories to a minimum, letting her spectacular gown speak for itself, and wearing just a few rings

Picture-perfect: The star had picture-perfect glam for the occasion. She accentuated her eyes with dramatic lashes and wore pink lipgloss on her pout

Picture-perfect: The star had picture-perfect glam for the occasion. She accentuated her eyes with dramatic lashes and wore pink lipgloss on her pout

Supportive: While on the red carpet Gabrielle spoke of her support for the LGBTQ+ community and what it meant for her to have Zaya as her date at the event

Supportive: While on the red carpet Gabrielle spoke of her support for the LGBTQ+ community and what it meant for her to have Zaya as her date at the event

Sweet: 'For her to be able to see so many members of her community - our community - that she's looked up to, that have inspired her, have held her down, had her back, is pretty huge'

Sweet: ‘For her to be able to see so many members of her community – our community – that she’s looked up to, that have inspired her, have held her down, had her back, is pretty huge’

During the interview, Zaya was asked about the lessons that her stepmother, Gabrielle, has taught her over the years in regards to ‘beauty and self-love.’

In response, the model revealed, ‘The lesson has changed over time, but more recently it’s that beauty is in yourself,’ and added, ‘It’s about being you and expressing yourself the way you want to.’

She also expressed that the She’s All That star, ‘tries to teach me that beauty standards are arbitrary and that they don’t mean anything. They don’t matter any more; what people thought was the standard is not. And just that being myself is the best technique out there.’

Zaya informed the outlet that she feels ’empowered’ most, ‘when my family surrounds me.’

‘They are such a giant support system and have always been there for me. No matter what happens, I feel strongest when I’m with them.’

Upon tying the knot with the sports star in 2014, Gabrielle became stepmother to Zaya and his other two children, Zaire, 21, and Xavier, as well as welcoming Kaavia, 4, via surrogate in 2018. 

Since Zaya had come out as transgender at the age of 12 back in 2020, both Gabrielle and Dwyane have remained by her side and supportive, including her decision to legally change her name, as well as her gender. 

Dwayne shares the teenager with his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches, who contested the name and gender change petition made by Wade, claiming that their child was being pressured financially to make the decision.

Happy: 'I'm really happy to be here and happy to be a part of sharing the community with my daughter,' she added

Happy: ‘I’m really happy to be here and happy to be a part of sharing the community with my daughter,’ she added

Family: Upon tying the knot with Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle became stepmother to Zaya and his other two children, Zaire, 21, and Xavier, as well as welcoming Kaavia, 4, via surrogate in 2018

Happy: Zaya happily posed for the shutterbugs at the event

Family: Upon tying the knot with Dwyane Wade, Gabrielle became stepmother to Zaya and his other two children, Zaire, 21, and Xavier, as well as welcoming Kaavia, 4, via surrogate in 2018

Lessons: Zaya recently shared some lessons her stepmom taught her over the years: '[She] tries to teach me that beauty standards are arbitrary and that they don’t mean anything'

Lessons: Zaya recently shared some lessons her stepmom taught her over the years: ‘[She] tries to teach me that beauty standards are arbitrary and that they don’t mean anything’

Fabulous: Gabrielle also took to her Instagram to share a fabulous clip of her outfit. The Bring It On star was pictured exiting an elevator in the glamorous gown

Fabulous: Gabrielle also took to her Instagram to share a fabulous clip of her outfit. The Bring It On star was pictured exiting an elevator in the glamorous gown

Serving: 'Never too busy to serve #GLAADAwards @glaad' she captioned the video, which quickly received over 17,000 likes

Serving: ‘Never too busy to serve #GLAADAwards @glaad’ she captioned the video, which quickly received over 17,000 likes

Wade, who played for the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls during his career, told the court that it was in the ‘best interest’ of Zaya to approve the petition.

He said that ‘a court order affirming her identity will allow Zaya to live more comfortably and honestly in all aspects of her life – from simple introductions and food orders, to applying for a driver’s license and filling out college applications.’

Wade said the ‘petition is about allowing Zaya to take on the milestones of being a young adult with confidence and joy.’

source: dailymail.co.uk