DOHA: Nedaa Shrara from Jordan became the first woman to win the reality show The Voice Ahla Sawt, MBC’s Arabic version of the popular singing competition.
According to MBC, 150 million viewers across the Middle East tuned in to watch the third season of The Voice, which ran over every Saturday for 14 weeks.
The three-hour episode was filmed live in Beirut at the MBC studios.
According to The National, English newspaper from the UAE, the hijab-clad Nedaa Shrara’s mentor, Egyptian star Sherine Abdel-Wahab, was insistent that Shrara would win the third season, and said that viewers “all have enough good sense and know better, and will make sure she wins and they won’t disappoint me”.
The other judges were Iraqi great Kadim Al-Sahir, Lebanese pop star Assi El Hallani and Tunisian singer Saber Rebaï.
According the newspaper’s website, 23-year-old Shrara teaches children with special needs and did not apply to audition of her own accord.
“I’ll never forget when Sherine told me I have to smile,” the paper quoted Shrara. “She said it wasn’t nice for the audience when I don’t smile when I sing and don’t show how much I enjoy it. My confidence grew, I started singing with joy. I think I wouldn’t have come this far if it weren’t for Sherine’s mentoring.”
“From the moment Nedaa came to The Voice, her father hasn’t spoken to her and doesn’t agree with what she’s doing,” The National quoted Abdel-Wahab. “I want to say that, despite all the temptations she grapples with daily on this show, Nedaa has stuck to her convictions and beliefs, has always dressed in accordance with her hijab and her modesty, has always been true to her values. I want to tell her father, your daughter is a role model on this show and makes us all proud that she has been here.”
The Peninsula
