Zendaya Paid Tribute to Beyoncé in a Vintage Versace Gown at the BET Awards

Zendaya wore a stunning vintage Versace gown to Sunday's BET Awards, paying tribute to Beyoncé who wore the same gown to perform at the 2003 ceremony.

los angeles, california – april 25 zendaya attends the 93rd annual academy awards at union station on april 25, 2021 in los angeles, california photo by chris pizzello poolgetty images
(Image credit: Pool)
  • Zendaya wore a stunning vintage Versace dress to Sunday's BET Awards, paying tribute to Beyoncé.
  • Queen Bey wore the same dress for her performance of "Crazy in Love" at the 2003 BET Awards.
  • "Paying homage to the Queen Beyoncé wearing @versace SS2003 ..... get you a stylist with a ARCHIVE!!!!" stylist Law Roach wrote on Instagram.

One of the best looks from Sunday's BET Awards came courtesy of Zendaya, icon, who paid tribute to Beyoncé, icon, in vintage Versace. Stylist Law Roach, icon, explained the history behind Zendaya's floaty purple and lime gown, revealing Beyoncé wore the very same style (altered to mini length) to perform "Crazy in Love" at the BET Awards in 2003. "Paying homage to the Queen Beyoncé wearing @versace SS2003 ..... get you a stylist with a ARCHIVE!!!!" Roach wrote on Instagram.

Zendaya completed the look with yellow diamond earrings by Bulgari and minimal strappy heels by Stuart Weitzman, posing for a series of truly stunning photos shot by Ahmad Barber and Donté Maurice of AB+DM. Fittingly, she captioned her Instagram post, "Crazy in love." See the Beyoncé look that inspired Zendaya's tribute below.

beyonce performs during the 3rd annual bet awards show at the kodak theater in hollywood, california, united states photo by steve graysonwireimage for bet entertainment

(Image credit: Steve Grayson)

Two notable people who loved Zendaya's flawless ensemble? Tina Knowles-Lawson, Beyoncé's mom and former Destiny's Child stylist, and Donatella Versace, chief creative officer of Versace. Sharing a photo of Bey at the 2003 BET Awards alongside a video of Zendaya, Knowles-Lawson wrote, "Love Zendaya in this beautiful vintage Versace dress !! I cut it short for Beyonce for Bet awards 2003 Crazy in Love Performance! Work Zendaya."

Versace, meanwhile, wrote alongside a photo of Zendaya, "@zendaya!! You looked just SENSATIONAL last night at the @bet awards." She continued, "I’ll never forget @beyonce wearing this in 2003. A tough act to follow but you aced it effortlessly! You got me looking….!!"

Emily Dixon
Morning Editor

Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.