So, you’ve probably spent the last few days binging the final season of Cobra Kai and found yourself staring at the screen thinking, "Who on earth is that girl playing Zara?" She’s smug, she’s basically a walking TikTok filter, and she fights like she was born with a black belt. Well, turns out, that last part isn't just movie magic.
The actress behind the polarizing Zara Malik is Rayna Vallandingham.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a newcomer walk onto a massive Netflix production and hold their own against veterans like Ralph Macchio or William Zabka, but Rayna did it with a specific kind of "I'm better than you" energy that made fans immediately want to see her get her ass kicked (in the best way possible for a villain). But here's the thing: most people assume she’s just another Hollywood actress who spent a few months in a "dojo boot camp" to learn some choreography.
That couldn't be further from the truth.
The Zara Malik Actress is a Real-Life Legend
Rayna Vallandingham isn't just "playing" a martial artist. She’s probably the most dangerous person on that entire set. Before she ever stepped in front of a Netflix camera, she was already a 13-time World Champion in Taekwondo.
Imagine that.
Thirteen titles. She won her first world championship at the age of eight. Most of us were still trying to figure out how to tie our shoes without tripping, and she was already out here collecting gold trophies in Little Rock, Arkansas. She earned her first black belt at six years old. By the time she was cast as Zara, she had attained a fourth-degree black belt.
✨ Don't miss: Who was the voice of Yoda? The real story behind the Jedi Master
This isn't just a fun piece of trivia. It’s why her fight scenes in Cobra Kai look so different.
When you watch Zara move during the Sekai Taikai, there’s a fluidity and a snap to her kicks that you can’t fake. She’s a practitioner of the American Taekwondo Association (ATA), and her expertise covers everything from traditional forms to weapons like the bo staff and nunchaku. If you look closely at her Iron Dragons scenes, you'll see she has a level of control over her center of gravity that usually takes decades to master.
Why the Character Zara Malik Rubbed Everyone the Wrong Way
Let’s talk about the character. Zara is kind of the worst, right? She’s introduced as the co-captain of the Iron Dragons dojo alongside Axel Kovačević.
The show writers did a brilliant job of making her a "modern" villain. She isn't just a bully; she’s a high-maintenance social media influencer. She’s the girl who would film a "GRWM" (Get Ready With Me) video right after beating someone into the pavement. That "two-faced" personality—the positive influencer facade masking a ruthless competitor—is what made her the perfect foil for Tory Nichols.
That Controversy with Robby Keene
If you’ve finished Part 2 of Season 6, you know there’s a specific storyline that got the subreddit r/cobrakai absolutely losing its mind. I’m talking about the scene where Zara basically manipulates a very vulnerable, very intoxicated Robby Keene.
Fans were divided. Some thought it was a brilliant "psychological warfare" move to get into Tory’s head before the finals. Others thought it was just plain "fucked up."
🔗 Read more: Not the Nine O'Clock News: Why the Satirical Giant Still Matters
But regardless of how you feel about the writing, Rayna Vallandingham played it perfectly. She captured that predatory, smug confidence of someone who knows exactly how to break a team’s spirit without throwing a single punch. It made her eventual showdown with Tory in the girls' finals feel incredibly personal. When Tory finally handed Zara her first competitive defeat, it wasn't just about the points on the scoreboard. It was a massive moment of catharsis for the audience.
From Encinitas to the "Street Fighter" Universe
Rayna’s story is actually pretty cool. She grew up in Encinitas, California, with a mixed heritage—her mom is of Indian descent and her father is Dutch. She’s been very vocal about using her platform to promote diversity in martial arts, often working with the Bruce Lee Foundation.
But if you think Cobra Kai is the last you’ll see of her, think again.
Because she’s such a legitimate fighter, Hollywood has already snatched her up for another massive franchise. She’s officially cast as Juli in the upcoming Street Fighter reboot film. For those who aren't gamers, Juli is one of the "Dolls"—elite assassins for Shadaloo. It’s a role that basically requires her to be a human weapon, which is exactly what she is.
She also had a few early roles you might recognize if you're a superfan:
- Underdog Kids (2015): Her film debut as Leticia Hernandez.
- Shawn Mendes "Youth" Music Video (2018): She showed off her martial arts skills here years before the Netflix fame.
- David Guetta "Baby Don't Hurt Me" (2023): Another music video appearance where she brought that high-energy presence.
The Reality of Training for Season 6
Most of the Cobra Kai cast talks about the "hell" of training for the fight scenes. For Rayna, the challenge was actually the opposite. She didn't need to learn how to kick; she had to learn how to "film fight."
💡 You might also like: New Movies in Theatre: What Most People Get Wrong About This Month's Picks
Real martial arts is about efficiency and hitting your target. Film fighting is about "selling" the move, leaving space for the camera, and making sure you don't actually break Xolo Maridueña's ribs. She’s mentioned in interviews that her biggest adjustment was focusing on her lines and the specific choreography of the Iron Dragons, rather than just relying on her instinctive combat training.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Career
The biggest misconception is that Rayna is an "influencer turned actress."
In reality, she’s been training as an actor since she was 10. The social media following—which is massive, by the way, with millions of followers across TikTok and Instagram—actually came after she was already a world-class athlete. She used social media to showcase her skills, which eventually led to the Cobra Kai casting. It’s a classic case of the "overnight success" that actually took 15 years of sweating in a dojo to achieve.
Actionable Insights: Why Zara Matters to the Franchise
If you’re a fan of the show, Zara’s inclusion represents a shift in how Cobra Kai views its villains. In the early seasons, the bad guys were mostly just "mean kids." By the end, the show introduced international-level threats like the Iron Dragons to prove that the "Valley" is just a small pond.
What you should do next as a fan:
- Watch the Behind-the-Scenes Clips: If you want to see the difference between "actor fighting" and "world-class fighting," go find Rayna’s training clips on Instagram. The speed is genuinely frightening.
- Look for the Street Fighter Updates: Keep an eye on her role as Juli. If the choreography in Cobra Kai impressed you, a big-budget Capcom movie is going to take it to another level.
- Check out her Advocacy: Rayna does a lot of work for women in sports and the Bruce Lee Foundation. If you have kids interested in martial arts, her story is actually a great example of how discipline in the dojo can lead to a career in the arts.
Zara Malik might be the character you love to hate, but Rayna Vallandingham is the real deal. She brought a level of legitimacy to the Sekai Taikai tournament that the show desperately needed to feel "world-class." Whether she’s breaking hearts or breaking boards, she’s definitely one of the breakout stars of 2024 and 2025.
Keep an eye on the Street Fighter news cycle. That’s where we’ll see her truly unleashed.