AceShowbiz - Zendaya Coleman's journey on "Dancing With the Stars" is one she prefers to leave in the past. During an appearance on Entertainment Weekly's "Awardist" podcast, the actress, now 28, looked back on her experience from Season 16 in 2013 when she was just 16 years old. Despite her impressive performances and a second-place finish with professional partner Val Chmerkovskiy, the experience left an unpleasant impression on her.

"I have not watched Dancing With the Stars since I was on," Zendaya revealed. "I didn't really watch Dancing With the Stars before I was on Dancing With the Stars. I don't think I was the target demographic. My grandma loves Dancing With the Stars, that's her bag."

The competition was intense, culminating in a final face-off against country star Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough, who ultimately took home the mirrorball trophy. Zendaya recalled the immense pressure she felt during the show. "I also think it was a very stressful experience. I was like, 'I don't think I'm gonna be watching this anymore,' " she added.

Despite the stress, Zendaya's participation on the show marked the beginning of a flourishing career. She first gained recognition as Rocky Blue on Disney Channel's "Shake It Up" and has since starred in significant projects such as the "Spider-Man" trilogy as MJ and the "Dune" saga as Chani. Her role as Rue Bennett in HBO's "Euphoria" earned her an Emmy award, making her the youngest winner for a leading role in a drama series.

Val Chmerkovskiy, Zendaya's "Dancing With the Stars" partner, reflected on their time together in a heartfelt Instagram post, celebrating her success and dedication. "Nearly 8 years ago I got the pleasure to teach a brilliant young woman how to ballroom dance on @dancingabc," he wrote.

"After giving it every ounce of our effort we came in second. Devastated by the loss I remember telling her that one day you'll be winning an Oscar and part of the reason why will be this feeling of defeat you feel right now," he continued. "Youngest ever winner of an Emmy for a leading role. You're a superstar, and always have been! Love you fam to many more wins in your life."

While Zendaya may not be tuning into the current season of "Dancing With the Stars", the show continues to make headlines with its roster of celebrity contestants. This season includes notable names like Tori Spelling and Eric Roberts, along with some surprising exits such as that of Anna Delvey, whose blunt parting words added to the show's dramatic flair.

For fans of Zendaya, her candid reflections on "Dancing With the Stars" add another layer to understanding the experiences that have shaped her successful career in Hollywood.