Zendaya made a dramatic return to the Emmys red carpet on Monday night, arriving at the 78th Primetime Emmy Awards with a striking new pixie cut and a dazzling Prada gown.
The Euphoria star attended the ceremony at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles on 14 September 2026. She wore a custom silver Prada gown styled by Law Roach, with sparkling embellishments and a plunging neckline.
However, it was Zendaya's newly cropped hairstyle that quickly became one of the biggest talking points of her appearance.
Zendaya's Halle Berry-inspired Pixie
Zendaya wore her short hair in a textured pixie style. The look featured soft, piecey texture, lift around the crown and a sleek finish around the edges.
Hairstylist Coree Moreno created the look. Moreno described the style as a classic pixie reworked with a modern, editorial feel.
Law Roach also confirmed that Halle Berry's famous short cut inspired the hairstyle.
The comparison to Berry was quickly noticed by fans online. Reactions on Reddit included comments such as 'Okay Halle Berry!' and comparisons to Berry's early 2000s hairstyle.
Berry's pixie became one of her most recognisable looks during that period. She famously wore a short hairstyle when she attended the 2002 Oscars, where she won Best Actress for Monster's Ball. She became the first Black woman to win the award.
Zendaya is giving me serious Halle Berry hairstyle vibes and Iām here for it š pic.twitter.com/0oNA33sDvD
— Hanz (@fashionistaera) September 13, 2026
Zendaya's version offered a softer and more contemporary take on the familiar style. The textured finish also had a different feel from Berry's more closely cropped version.
Zendaya had already been seen with the shorter hairstyle at a Prada Paradoxe pop-up during New York Fashion Week shortly before the Emmys. Her appearance at the event gave fans an early look at the dramatic change.
A Crystal-Embellished Prada Statement
Zendaya paired the pixie cut with a custom Prada gown covered in shimmering details.
The fitted design featured a plunging neckline, sheer white detailing and a mini train. The silver sequins and appliqués added further sparkle to the red-carpet look.
According to recent articles, the styling was completed with Mikimoto pearl and diamond jewellery. Zendaya also wore statement earrings featuring white South Sea cultured pearls and diamonds, along with additional rings and a bracelet.
Meanwhile, her make-up was kept relatively understated. Vogue reported that Zendaya worked with make-up artist Ernesto Casillas and Moreno on the beauty look. The finished styling kept the attention on her hair, jewellery and Prada gown.
Zendaya Returns to the Emmys
The red-carpet appearance came as Zendaya returned to the Emmys for her third nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Rue Bennett in Euphoria. She previously won the category in 2020 and 2022. Those victories made her the youngest two-time acting winner in Emmy history.
Her 2026 nomination was for the third and final season of Euphoria. She also took the stage during the ceremony to present an award. While her Emmy nomination remained an important part of the evening, Zendaya's fashion choices quickly attracted attention of their own.
For Zendaya, the appearance offered another example of her willingness to change her look for major events. After recent appearances with longer hair during her film press tours, she arrived at the Emmys with one of her shortest hairstyles yet.
