American pop princess Zendaya has spoken frankly about the challenges young musicians face and the importance of being a role model.

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes video – shot during her high-end cover shoot for Rankin’s Hunger magazine – the 19-year-old former Disney actress said it can be difficult as a rising starlet to ‘stay with your vision’.

Touting British fashion legend Vivienne Westwood as her idol, the outspoken singer said she believes it’s better to inspire others by just being herself rather than ‘playing a role’.

American pop princess Zendaya has spoken frankly about the challenges young musicians face and the importance of being a role model

In an exclusive behind-the-scenes video – shot during her high-end cover shoot for Rankin’s Hunger magazine – the 19-year-old former Disney actress said it can be difficult as a rising starlet to ‘stay with your vision’

Speaking to Hunger editor Holly Fraser, Taylor Swift’s pal said: ‘The challenges I think young musicians face is, just, it’s hard to stay with your vision. Everybody has an opinion. Everybody has a way that they see your career should go.’

She added: ‘Sometimes you just gotta stick with your gut, stick with your instinct and stick with your personal vision because at the end of the day you gotta live with it.’

Zendaya, an actress, singer, producer and designer was recently named as one of Time magazine’s 30 most influential teenagers alongside the likes of Malala Yousafzei, Malia Obama, Jaden Smith and Amandla Stenberg.

Hunger magazine snapped Zendaya up after being impressed by her ‘dignified, outspoken and intelligent nature’, which they say has set her apart from her contemporaries and made her the perfect celebrity to front their Autumn/Winter issue, featuring on four limited edition covers.

Posing in an array of key looks from Vivienne Westwood’s collection, the star showcases her natural beauty as she poses in the dramatic shots

Touting British fashion legend Vivienne Westwood as her idol, the outspoken singer said she believes it’s better to inspire others by just being herself rather than ‘playing a role’

Pop princess Zendaya has had a high fashion makeover as she stars on Hunger magazine’s new cover – and looks incredible with water dripping down her face for the camera

But despite the high praise and numerous accolades, Zendaya approaches the role model tag with caution, telling the publication: ‘I don’t think it’s important to be a role model because if you’re a role model you’re playing a role, pretending to be someone, and I don’t think any artist should be pretending to be anyone but themselves.’

She continued: ‘Nobody’s stupid – if you’re trying to be something that you are not, people will realise at some point that you are not being authentic to who you are. It eats you up inside.

‘For me, I try not to be a role model, I just, in the words of Tupac Shakur, try to be a real model, which means you’re just being yourself and trying to be the best you can be. I think in that way of doing your best, you kind of inspire others to be the best them.’

Asked who inspires her she reveals she looks to Vivienne Westwood: ‘I’m inspired by her just because, you know, her stuff is different. I think she’s never trying to be different. It’s just effortless to her and I can connect to.’

The 19-year-old, who shot to fame as a Disney star, has been snapped up as Hunger 9’s cover star directed by esteemed photographer, Rankin

The shoot comes at the perfect time for the fledgling superstar, who featured in Taylor Swift’s star-studded Bad Blood video and was named as one of the world’s most influential teens

She also stars in a glitchy film for the magazine, which directors say matches Zendaya’s fierce attitude

In February this year, Zendaya slammed Giuliana Rancic after the Fashion Police host joked the singer might smell of weed, just because she had her hair in dreadlocks.

The fashion critic said, of Zendaya’s appearance at the Academy Awards: ‘I feel like she smells smells like patchouli oil… or maybe weed.’

The teen, who was 18 at the time, reacted furiously on Twitter, accusing the E! anchor of being ‘ignorant, disrespectful and outrageously offensive’.

‘There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful,’ she wrote. ‘Someone said something about my hair at the Oscars that left me in awe. Not because I was relishing in rave outfit reviews, but because I was hit with ignorant slurs and pure disrespect.

‘To say that an 18-year-old young woman with locs must smell of patchouli oil or “weed” is not only a large stereotype but outrageously offensive. I don’t usually feel the need to respond to negative things but certain remarks cannot go unchecked.’

Hunger magazine snapped Zendaya up after being impressed by her ‘dignified, outspoken and intelligent nature’, which they say has set her apart from her contemporaries

The star, seen behind the scenes on her Hunger shoot,  hit headlines earlier this month when she forced Los Angeles-based fashion magazine Modeliste to pull its November issue because it featured dramatically retouched photos of her body

Zendaya is known for her edgy sense of style, every-changing hairstyles and fierce attitude, as well as her musical and acting abilities

Meanwhile Zendaya hit headlines earlier this month when she forced Los Angeles-based fashion magazine Modeliste to pull its November issue because it featured dramatically retouched photos of her body.

Modeliste never intended to publish the manipulated images after profusely apologising to Zendaya.

And while over-the-top photo editing is far too common in the magazine industry, the teen star made it a point to speak out against the images as soon as she saw them.

Zendaya, whose full name is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, took to Instagram to post a side-by-side image of the retouched and unedited versions of one photo from the shoot to make a statement about the impossible beauty standards inflicted on women.

‘Had a new shoot come out today and was shocked when I found my 19 year old hips and torso quite manipulated,’ she wrote. ‘These are the things that make women self conscious, that create the unrealistic ideals of beauty that we have.

Despite the praise, Zendaya approaches the role model tag with caution, telling the publication: ‘I don’t think it’s important to be a role model because if you’re a role model you’re playing a role, pretending to be someone’

The film also features the song Close Up, one of the lead tracks from multi-talented Zendaya’s upcoming sophomore album, due for release in early 2016

‘Anyone who knows who I am knows I stand for honest and pure self love. So I took it upon myself to release the real pic (right side) and I love it.’

The singer, who featured in Taylor Swift’s star-studded Bad Blood music video, also stars in a glitchy film for the magazine, which directors say matches Zendaya’s fierce attitude.

The film also features the song Close Up, one of the lead tracks from Zendaya’s upcoming sophomore album, due for release in early 2016.

Produced by Timbaland, the singer says it’s a ‘marked evolution’ from her previous work.

Zendaya’s shoot was styled by Kim Howells, Fashion Director at Hunger, Directed by Rankin with Creative Director, Vicky Lawton

Zendaya is one of the most well-connected stars in Hollywood. Here she poses with model pals Gigi Hadid, and Kendall Jenner at Vogue Paris’ 95th Anniversary Party

Zendaya’s shoot was styled by Kim Howells, Fashion Director at Hunger, Directed by Rankin with Creative Director, Vicky Lawton.