Arianna Afsar

Arianna Ayesha "Ari" 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

(1991-10-22) October 22, 1991
San Diego, California, U.S.
Alma materUCLA
Occupation
  • singer
  • composer
  • beauty queen
  • activist
  • actress
Notable work
Hamilton (2016)
Jeannette: The Musical (2019)
Allegory (2019)
Websitewww.ariannaafsar.com


Early life

Afsar is from California. Her father is from Bangladesh and 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.[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 Jeannette with a book by playwright Lauren Gunderson. The musical, about U.S. Rep. Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, was part of the 2019 summer series at the National Music Theater Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut.[25]

Other

Afsar played the role of "Ellie" in the direction-to-video science fiction action film Martian Land.[26]

Political views

Ari Afsar is an activist fighting for women's rights. She is on the board of the ACLU of IL Next Gen.[27] She spoke at the youth reception for the ACLU national convention.[28] She is an avid supporter and vocal advocate for Planned Parenthood, USOW, and the Women's March.[29] Ari opened for Michelle Obama at the United State of Women[30] at the Shrine Auditorium. Her father is an immigrant from Bangladesh and her mother is German-American.

References
  1. ‘Hamilton’ Star Ari Afsar Dares to Be a Voice. TruthDare Podcast, hosted by Toan Lam (podcast). April 1, 2017. Event occurs at 00:02:13. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  2. Zouves, Natasha (July 13, 2010). "New Miss California Against Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants". NBC Southern California. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  3. Union-Tribune, San Diego. "Miss California Arianna Afsar shines in the spotlight". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  4. "UCLA student Arianna Afsar crowned Miss California 2010". dailybruin.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  5. "Ari Afsar – Singer/Actor". Sunnynook Drive. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  6. Union-Tribune, San Diego. "San Diegan Arianna Afsar competing for Miss America crown". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  7. "Arianna Afsar | Miss California". Miss California. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on January 6, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  8. "2005 Contestants – Miss America's Outstanding Teen". Miss America's Outstanding Teen. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  9. "PQ's Arianna Afsar Makes Top 10 in Miss America Competition". 92127 Magazine. January 2, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  10. "Miss Yorba Linda third in Miss California pageant". Orange County Register. July 1, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  11. "Past Winners". www.misssandiego.org. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  12. Vanessa Rakis-Garabedian, Vanessa (July 1, 2010). "Miss S.D. wins Miss California in Fresno". Fresno Bee.
  13. "UCLA students juggle their academic workload with pageant competitions". dailybruin.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  14. "Miss California History". Miss California. Archived from the original on October 13, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  15. Clifford, Jane. "Westview High School student makes the 'American Idol' cut". Signs on San Diego.
  16. Interactive, Tribune. "American Idol Top 36: Arianna Afsar". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  17. "American Idol Audition of the Day: Arianna Afsar". The Hollywood Gossip. February 3, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  18. Rushfield, Richard (March 5, 2009). "Nine down, now let the wild cards roll". Los Angeles Times.
  19. Phillips, Michael (December 4, 2001). ""Grinch" entertains without stealing heart". The Los Angeles Times. p. 190. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  20. "Casting for Chicago's 'Hamilton' announced". Chicago Sun-Times. July 13, 2016.
  21. "UCLA alumna Ari Afsar lands role in Chicago production of 'Hamilton'". Daily Bruin. September 16, 2016.
  22. Nitschke, Emma. "Helpless for 'Hamilton'". Marquette Wire. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  23. Nguyen, Minh (July 14, 2016). "Chicago Run of 'Hamilton' Announces Opening Leads". NBC News. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  24. https://twitter.com/JosephAMorales/status/998052072778944512
  25. http://www.playbill.com/article/oneill-theater-centers-2019-season-taps-new-works-by-craig-lucas-hansol-jung-charly-evon-simpson-anna-ziegler-more
  26. Miller, Thomas Kent (October 3, 2016). Mars in the Movies: A History. McFarland. p. 215. ISBN 9780786499144.
  27. "The Next Generation Society". ACLU of Illinois. March 3, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  28. "Ari Afsar on Instagram: "The ACLU needs us now more than ever. I had the honor to share my story last Friday for the @acluofil Luncheon. Always Speak Out, Stand Up,…"". Instagram. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  29. "Full List of Speakers at Women's March in Chicago". NBC Chicago. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  30. ja-gaciak (May 5, 2018), Ari Afsar performing "We Won't Sleep" at The 2018 United State of Women Summit, retrieved October 23, 2018
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Kristy Cavinder		 Miss California
2010		 Succeeded by
Noelle Freeman
Preceded by
Elizabeth & Isabella Tang		 Miss California's Outstanding Teen
2005		 Succeeded by
Summer Clark
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