Rayna Vallandingham

Last updated

Rayna Vallandingham
Born
Rayna Vallandingham

(2003-01-18) January 18, 2003 (age 22)
Encinitas, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Martial artist
  • actress
  • social media influencer
Years active2011–present
Known forPortraying Zara Malik in Cobra Kai

Rayna Vallandingham (born January 18, 2003) is an American martial artist, actress, and social media influencer.

Contents

Early life

Vallandingham was born to a mother of Indian origin, and a father of Dutch origin. [1]

Martial arts career

She began practicing taekwondo at the age of 2, encouraged by her grandfather, who played an instrumental role in her early development.[ citation needed ] By the age of 8, she won her first American Taekwondo Association world championship, becoming one of the youngest black belts to achieve this feat.

Over her career, Vallandingham has earned 13 American Taekwondo Association titles, excelling in both traditional combat and weapons forms such as the bo staff and nunchaku.[ citation needed ]

Acting career

Early career

After winning the XMA Forms world championships, Vallandingham flew to Los Angeles to start her acting career at the age of 10 on Underdog Kids as Leticia Hernandez, directed by six-time taekwondo black belt and actor Phillip Rhee. [2] [3] The movie was released on July 7, 2015. [4] Vallandingham made an appearance in her first music video role in 2018, starring as herself in "Youth" by Shawn Mendes, featuring Khalid, demonstrating her martial arts skills. [5] [6] and include David Guetta, Anne-Marie and Coi Leray appeared in 2023 song Baby Don't Hurt Me [7]

Cobra Kai

In 2024, Vallandingham starred in her first television show on Netflix's martial arts series, Cobra Kai . [8] [9] She plays a supporting antagonist in the final season, portraying Zara Malik, a cocky, high-maintenance, social media influencer, and skilled martial artist, as a co-captain under the dojo Iron Dragons, starring besides Lewis Tan as Sensei Wolf and Patrick Luwis as Axel Kovačević. [10] Malik was introduced during the Sekai Taikai tournament as the defending champions and as an undefeated rival team. [11] In the third part of Season 6's Cobra Kai, Vallandingham took on her role as Zara Malik again, where she took her first defeat in competitive action against Tory Nichols, portrayed by Peyton List, in the Sekai Taikai girls finals. [12] [13]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2015 Underdog Kids Leticia HernandezFilm debut [14]
2026 Street Fighter Juli Filming [15]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
2024–2025 Cobra Kai Zara MalikRecurring role (season 6) [16]

Music videos

YearArtistTitleRoleRef
2018 Shawn Mendes "Youth"Herself [5] [6]
2023 David Guetta Anne-Marie, Coi Leray "Baby Don’t Hurt Me Herself [7]

Personal life

As an advocate for women in sports, Vallandingham seeks to challenge stereotypes in martial arts, a field traditionally dominated by men. She embraces the phrase “kick like a girl” as a positive expression of strength and skill. [17]

References

  1. ↑ Talawadekar, Vaishnavi Nayel (January 2, 2025). "Rayna Vallandingham looks like the girl of your dreams, but she can also make you scream". Vogue India . Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Local 10-year-old to co-star in martial arts movie 'Underdogs'". San Diego Union-Tribune. August 21, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  3. ↑ Houck, Kristina (June 13, 2015). "Local martial artist's skills give a kick to 'Underdog Kids'". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Underdogs Kids | DVD (Anchor Bay) | cityonfire.com". CityOnFire. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  5. 1 2 Mendes, Shawn (November 5, 2018). "Shawn Mednes - Youth ft. Khalid". YouTube. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Shawn Mendes Feat. Khalid: Youth (Music), Black Hand Cinema, November 5, 2018, retrieved November 23, 2024
  7. 1 2 "David Guetta, Anne-Marie, Coi Leray - Baby Don't Hurt Me". YouTube. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  8. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (October 17, 2024). "Lewis Tan Joins 'Cobra Kai' Season 6, Part 2, as Sensei Wolf". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  9. ↑ Siddhika (November 15, 2024). "Cobra Kai Season 6 Gets a Killer Martial Artist in Cast: 13x World Champion Rayna Vallandingham is a Scary Fighter in Real Life". Fandomwire. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  10. ↑ Peralta, Diego (October 17, 2024). "'Cobra Kai's Final Season Call Sheet Adds Three More". Collider. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  11. ↑ Sharma, Dhruv (November 17, 2024). "The Iron Dragon Team In Cobra Kai Explained". ScreenRant. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ Mott, Sean (February 14, 2025). "'Cobra Kai' Season 6 Part 3 Ending Explained: Everything Comes Full Circle in the Valley". Collider. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  13. ↑ Shaw, Angel (February 14, 2025). "Johnny & Miguel's Miyagi-Do Decision During The Sekai Taikai Brings Cobra Kai Full Circle, Ending Their Karate Kid Story". ScreenRant. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  14. ↑ Rhee, Phillip (July 7, 2015), Underdog Kids (Action, Family), Phillip Rhee, Mirelly Taylor, Max Gail, Group Hug Productions, Itsy Bitsy Film, retrieved November 24, 2024
  15. ↑ Couch, Aaron (September 4, 2025). "Street Fighter Moves to Paramount as Legendary Deal Becomes Official". The Hollywood Reporter . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved September 4, 2025.
  16. ↑ Singh, Jasneet (November 21, 2024). "Zara Malik Is One of the Best New Villains in 'Cobra Kai' Season 6". Collider. Retrieved November 23, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Tae kwon do world champion Rayna Vallandingham takes pride in 'kicking like a girl'". Yahoo Life. May 1, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2024.
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