Rayna Vallandingham, a talented martial artist of mixed Indian-American ethnicity, has taken the spotlight as Zara Malik, the fierce new girl in ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6 Part 2.
Full Name: Rayna Jade Vallandingham
Birthdate: January 18, 2003
Birthplace: United States
Age: 21 years old
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Nickname: Rayray
Parents: Jeff and Joty Vallandingham
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: Mixed (Indian-American)
Height: 5 feet 2 inches
Relationship Status: Dating Ryan Asher, better known as rsqueezy on IG
Net Worth: Not publicly disclosed
Rayna Jade Vallandingham Is a Martial Arts Prodigy
Rayna Vallandingham, or Rayray, has made a name for herself in martial arts and entertainment. Born on January 18, 2003, she became the youngest black belt to win 12 World Championship Titles by the time she was eight. In 2011, she won four world titles at the Little Rock, Arkansas championships. Despite facing older and bigger opponents, she grabbed the Triple Crown in Traditional Forms, Weapons, Sparring, and Creative Weapons.
Vallandingham trains martial arts for two hours a day, adds in strength workouts, and balances her career as an instructor, fight choreographer, and content creator—with over a million TikTok followers to show for it. Some traditionalists aren’t thrilled with her blending martial arts and modern content, but Rayna’s unbothered. Through her podcast, The A THREAT League, she pushes for authenticity and innovation in the martial arts world.
Her ultimate goal? To be the “female Bruce Lee.” She even partnered with Bruce Lee’s family, a moment she sees as a huge honor and an opportunity to inspire young girls. Rayna sticks to her values no matter what. She’s turned down big offers, like a WWE contract and a voiceover role, because they didn’t align with what she stands for. Setbacks, like losing competitions, only fire her up to improve. She also believes in trying new things—like dance—to keep creativity flowing, all while diversifying her skills in stunts, acting, and choreography.
For Rayna, fitness is all about finding confidence and joy in movement, whether it’s martial arts or just staying active. She wishes to empower women to feel strong and embrace their inner champion because, to her, that’s what womanhood is all about.
The Journey From Martial Arts to Acting
Rayna’s skills go way beyond the dojo. In 2015, she made her debut as Leticia in Phillip Rhee’s film ‘Underdog Kids.’ This role kicked off her journey in the entertainment world. Now, she juggles her martial arts career with acting and regularly attends acting classes in Los Angeles. Despite numerous online queries, she is not involved in UFC.
Rayna’s portrayal of Zara Malik in ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 6 is making waves all over the internet. A powerhouse in the Sekai Taikai tournament, playing a member of the Iron Dragons, she brings a ton of authenticity and intensity to her role, thanks to her real-life martial arts skills.
Cobra Kai’s New Girl: Who Is Zara Malik?
The new girl Zara Malik is one of the standout villains in Cobra Kai Season 6, played by martial artist Rayna Vallandingham, who boasts a 4th-degree black belt and 13 world championships under her belt, making the fight scenes feel incredibly real. Malik is a student at the Iron Dragons dojo in Hong Kong and teams up with Axel Kovačević in the Sekai Taikai tournament. Zara’s known for her speed, smarts, and flashy fighting style, earning her the nickname “Queen of Karate.” Outside the dojo, she’s a social media influencer with big sponsors, showing off her bold personality, cocky attitude, and love for drama.
She makes a huge impression early on, taking down fighters like Tory Nichols and Sam LaRusso, proving the Iron Dragons mean business. But things get messy when she hooks up with Robby Keene during their stay at a hotel. Tory finds out and spills the tea, which costs Zara two sponsors and stirs up some major drama. In an all-dojo brawl sparked by Tiger Strike, Zara takes on both Tory and Robby, eventually losing to Robby. The chaos hits a turning point when Kwon Jae-Sung dies in a freak accident, and for once, Zara shows she’s more than just a diva by showing genuine empathy.
Fans speculate Zara’s background is either Arab or South Asian based on her name and accent. Her character mixes high-maintenance energy, jealousy, and rare moments of compassion, making her a complex and unforgettable addition to the show.
Rayna Vallandingham Is A Star on Instagram & TikTok
Rayna Vallandingham is not just on socials, she is a full-fledged social media star pulling in over 5 million followers on Instagram and TikTok. Her page is packed with awesome Taekwondo moves, and her viral reels have racked up millions of views. She loves inspiring the next wave of martial artists, mixing old-school martial arts with a fresh, modern twist in her content.
As a Brand Ambassador for the American Taekwondo Association, Rayna’s role goes way beyond just martial arts. She participates in campaigns, interviews, and photo shoots, and makes public appearances to represent the sport and share its values with the world.
Rayna Vallandingham’s Parents, Family & Ethnicity
Rayna Vallandingham hails from sunny Encinitas, California, where she was raised by her parents, Jeff and Joty Vallandingham, both chiropractors. Her mother, Joty Vallandingham, is Indian, so Rayna carries Indian heritage on her mom’s side. Even though she was born and raised in the U.S., her South Asian roots play a major part in her background. That said, Rayna’s grown up in a super diverse environment, which has definitely shaped who she is as an amazing athlete and actress.
Always strong and coordinated, Rayna was inspired by her older brother Zane’s taekwondo journey, and she started training at three to help overcome her shyness. While her hard work has clearly paid off, and she’s made a name for herself in the public eye, Rayna Vallandingham keeps most of her private life under wraps, including details about her relationships and net worth. However, what we do know about her love life is she’s dating a guy named Ryan Asher, who goes by ‘rsqueezy’ on Instagram.
Rayna’s Future Aspirations and Legacy
https://twitter.com/U7XEDITZ/status/1857929066311037400Rayna Vallandingham isn’t just sticking to martial arts or acting—she’s got her sights set on becoming the female Bruce Lee. She is fond of spreading the love for martial arts and inspiring kids everywhere, both girls and boys. Her drive to break barriers and push the limits in martial arts and content creation makes her a standout role model.
Rayna’s journey from a shy kid to a world champ and now a rising actress is super inspiring! She’s all about empowering girls to take up martial arts and smash stereotypes, proving that there’s nothing more empowering than embracing your fierce self.
Catch more of her story on Instagram and TikTok, where she shares her love for martial arts and her adventures in showbiz.
Oh, and don’t miss Cobra Kai Season 6—now streaming on Netflix!
