Arianna Ayesha Afsar (born October 22, 1991) is an American singer, composer, beauty queen and activist best known for her starring role in Hamilton, as the songwriter of the musical Jeannette, and as a top contestant on American Idol.
Arianna Afsar | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arianna Ayesha Afsar October 22, 1991 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Education | University of California, Los Angeles (BA) |
| Occupations |
|
| Notable work | Hamilton (2016) Jeannette: The Musical (2019) Allegory (2019) |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
Afsar is from San Diego. Her father is from Bangladesh and her mother is of German origin.[1][2] She attended Westview High School where she opened Adopt-a-Grandfriend in 2005, to fight loneliness of senior citizens.[3][4] After graduating Westview in 2009, she attended the University of California, Los Angeles.[5][6]
Career
Pageant
Afsar won the Miss America's Outstanding Teen title for California in 2005[7] and represented California in the inaugural Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageant in Orlando, Florida in August 2005.[8] As the youngest contestant in the competition, she won a preliminary talent award and placed first runner-up.[9]
She was the winner of Miss San Diego County in 2010.[10][11]
In 2010 Afsar competed in the Miss California pageant for the first time and won the Miss California 2010 title.[12][13] She competed in the Miss America 2011 pageant in January 2011 and placed in top 10.[14]
American Idol
In 2009, Afsar was a contestant on American Idol 8. She auditioned in Phoenix and sang "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae.[15][16] She was one of the final 36 contestants.[17] Afsar progressed to the live semi-finals but failed to make it through her group and was not selected to compete for a wildcard by the judges.[15][18]
Theatre
In 2001 she appeared in a production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical as Cindy Lou Who.[19]
It was announced on July 13, 2016, that Afsar would portray the role of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton in the Chicago production of Hamilton beginning performances in late September 2016.[20][21][22][23] Afsar left the Chicago production on March 25, 2018, but briefly returned to the role for the 2nd National Tour's stop at Segerstrom Center for the Arts for the weekend of May 19, 2018.[24]
Afsar wrote the music and lyrics to the musical We Won't Sleep (formerly Jeannette) with a book by playwright Lauren Gunderson. The musical is about U.S. Rep. Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress. Under the title Jeannette, it was part of the 2019 summer series at the National Music Theater Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut.[25] We Won't Sleep is scheduled to have its world premiere at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia in 2022.[26]
Politics and activism
Afsar is also a women's rights activist. She is on the board of the ACLU of Illinois Next Gen.[27] She spoke at the youth reception for the American Civil Liberties Union national convention.[28] She is an avid supporter and vocal advocate for Planned Parenthood, United State of Women, and the Women's March.[29] Afsar opened for Michelle Obama at the United State of Women[30] at the Shrine Auditorium.
Other
Afsar played the role of "Ellie" in the direct-to-video science fiction action film Martian Land.[31]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Mauj Mastiyan (Taste of Love) | Dolly | |
| 2015 | Martian Land | Ellie | Direct-to-video |
| 2018 | Canal Street | Kathy | |
| 2022 | Wedding Season | Priya |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | American Idol | Herself | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Unusual Suspects | Deanna Grimes | Episode: "Blood in the Water" |
| 2014 | OMG! EMT! | Brianne | Episode: "Surprise Attacks" |
| 2014 | Tattoo Nightmares | Elizabeth | Episode: "Broke and Branded" |
| 2015 | My Haunted House | Carrie | Episode: "Summer Rental & Dark Room" |
References
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