Zendaya named face of Prada Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry
Zendaya is the new global face of Prada Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry, a fruity floral gourmand directed by Barry Jenkins, marking her first fragrance ambassador role with Prada Beauty.
FASHION
8/3/20262 min read
Zendaya has officially joined Prada Beauty as the global fragrance ambassador for Prada Paradoxe, fronting the campaign for Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry, the newest addition to the brand's women's fragrance line.
The partnership leans into the idea that identity is complex and always evolving. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Zendaya said she appreciates how Paradoxe captures both strength and vulnerability without trying to define the person wearing it. She also noted that Paradoxe was already a personal favorite before Prada approached her, giving the collaboration a natural starting point.
Barry Jenkins directed the campaign, bringing his cinematic sensibility to the launch. The filmmaker previously worked with Prada on its Fall/Winter 2026 "Simple Stories" campaign, built around intimate, everyday moments, and his involvement gives Paradoxe a more story-driven feel than the typical glossy perfume ad.
Building up to the announcement
At the center of the campaign is Prada Paradoxe Sweet Chemistry, a fruity floral gourmand created by Nadège Le Garlantezec, Shyamala Maisondieu and Antoine Maisondieu. Blackcurrant syrup opens the fragrance with a rich, juicy note, while orange blossom absolute and a creamy neroli milk accord round it out with floral warmth.
The perfume arrives in the signature triangular Paradoxe bottle, refreshed in a playful pink-purple shade, and will come in several sizes plus a 100 ml refill. Like the rest of the Paradoxe line, the bottle is refillable, so the new look isn't a one-time run.
The scent
Zendaya's tie to Prada Beauty had already been taking shape before this was official. Her makeup artist, Ernesto Casillas, used the brand's skincare and makeup for several appearances during her "The Odyssey" promotional tour. At the film's New York premiere, Casillas built a warm, luminous complexion using Prada Beauty products, including Touch blush in Caffè and Cherry, looks that drew plenty of attention and now read as an early hint of the partnership to come.
Zendaya's new role is tied specifically to the Prada Paradoxe fragrance line rather than Prada Beauty as a whole. For now, her place in the Prada universe is all about perfume.
Images: Prada Beauty
