Zaya Wade Says Her Dad Dwyane Wade Can Be 'Intimidating' to Dates

Zaya Wade has a tough dating life with Dwyane Wade as a father.

The transgender model and LGBTQ advocate, 17, spoke to Seventeen about the differences between her father and stepmother, Gabrielle Union, when it pertains to her relationships. While the teenager said her parents are "really cool about" her dating, she explained Union's clear excitement for them, somewhat opposite from the former NBA player. Dwyane Wade shares Zaya and his oldest son, Zaire, 22, with his ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches. The retired athlete also has a son, Xavier, 11, with Aja Metoyer, a daughter, Kaavia, 6, with Union and is the legal guardian of his nephew, Dahveon Morris, 21.

"Me and my stepmom love to dish the dirt and tap into the high school gossip. She gets excited for me when I’m like, 'Oh, I like this person,'" Wade said.

Wade added that it's "nice to have that kind of energy" of her parents wanting to meet who she's dating, although her father assumes a more protective role. "Although, my dad…he tries to scare any person I have interest in. He’s kind of intimidating," Wade admitted.

Wade explained that the people she's dated "have all been afraid of him in the first interaction." "He’s gigantic and he has this deep, booming voice," she continued. "But the facade only lasts for so long and you actually see his real personality. He’s a teddy bear."

Last year, the father-daughter duo launched an online "safe space" for queer, transgender and gender non-binary youth called Translatable. In addition to expressing pride in Wade taking on the project, Wade stated that he wanted his oldest daughter to feel comfortable speaking with them about any grievances or changes in her life.

“You will hope as a parent that your kids feel comfortable to communicate with you when they're confused and they're looking for answers,” Wade said. "Whatever it is they are experiencing, that they feel comfortable enough to express those things to you. You won't want it to be someone else. At the end of the day, they're your kids. But you have to create the environment for that."