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Arianna Afsar

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Arianna Afsar
Born
Arianna Ayesha Afsar

(1991-10-22)October 22, 1991(age 32)
San Diego,California,U.S.
EducationUniversity of California, Los Angeles(BA)
Occupations
  • singer
  • composer
  • beauty queen
  • activist
  • actress
Notable workHamilton(2016)
Jeannette: The Musical(2019)
Allegory(2019)
Websitewww.ariannaafsar.com

Arianna Ayesha Afsar(born October 22, 1991) is an American singer, composer, beauty queen and activist best known for her starring role inHamilton,as the songwriter of the musicalJeannette,and as a top contestant onAmerican Idol.

Early life and education[edit]

Afsar is fromSan Diego.Her father is fromBangladeshand her mother is of German origin.[1][2]She attendedWestview High Schoolwhere she opened Adopt-a-Grandfriend in 2005, to fight loneliness of senior citizens.[3][4]After graduating Westview in 2009, she attended theUniversity of California, Los Angeles.[5][6]

Career[edit]

Pageant[edit]

Afsar won theMiss America's Outstanding Teentitle for California in 2005[7]and represented California in the inauguralMiss America's Outstanding Teenpageant inOrlando, Floridain 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 theMiss Californiapageant for the first time and won the Miss California 2010 title.[12][13]She competed in theMiss America 2011pageant in January 2011 and placed in top 10.[14]

American Idol[edit]

In 2009, Afsar was a contestant onAmerican Idol 8.She auditioned inPhoenixand sang "Put Your Records On"byCorinne 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[edit]

In 2001 she appeared in a production ofDr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musicalas Cindy Lou Who.[19]

It was announced on July 13, 2016, that Afsar would portray the role ofElizabeth Schuyler Hamiltonin theChicagoproduction ofHamiltonbeginning 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 atSegerstrom Center for the Artsfor the weekend of May 19, 2018.[24]

Afsar wrote the music and lyrics to the musicalWe Won't Sleep(formerlyJeannette) with a book by playwrightLauren Gunderson.The musical is about U.S. Rep.Jeannette Rankin,the first woman elected to Congress. Under the titleJeannette,it was part of the 2019 summer series at the National Music Theater Conference at theEugene O'Neill Theater Centerin Connecticut.[25]We Won't Sleepis scheduled to have its world premiere at theTony Award-winningSignature TheatreinArlington, Virginiain 2022.[26]

Politics and activism[edit]

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 theAmerican Civil Liberties Unionnational convention.[28]She is an avid supporter and vocal advocate forPlanned Parenthood,United State of Women,and theWomen's March.[29]Afsar opened forMichelle Obamaat the United State of Women[30]at the Shrine Auditorium.

Other[edit]

Afsar played the role of "Ellie" in the direct-to-video science fiction action filmMartian Land.[31]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

  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.RetrievedJanuary 6,2018.
  2. ^Zouves, Natasha (July 13, 2010)."New Miss California Against Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants".NBC Southern California.RetrievedMarch 1,2018.
  3. ^Union-Tribune, San Diego."Miss California Arianna Afsar shines in the spotlight".sandiegouniontribune.com.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
  4. ^"UCLA student Arianna Afsar crowned Miss California 2010".dailybruin.com.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
  5. ^"Ari Afsar – Singer/Actor".Sunnynook Drive.Archived fromthe originalon March 1, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
  6. ^Union-Tribune, San Diego."San Diegan Arianna Afsar competing for Miss America crown".sandiegouniontribune.com.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
  7. ^"Arianna Afsar | Miss California".Miss California.April 2, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon January 6, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 6,2018.
  8. ^"2005 Contestants – Miss America's Outstanding Teen".Miss America's Outstanding Teen.Archived fromthe originalon January 6, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 6,2018.
  9. ^"PQ's Arianna Afsar Makes Top 10 in Miss America Competition".92127 Magazine.January 2, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon March 2, 2018.RetrievedMarch 1,2018.
  10. ^"Miss Yorba Linda third in Miss California pageant".Orange County Register.July 1, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
  11. ^"Past Winners".www.misssandiego.org.Archived fromthe originalon March 1, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 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.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
  14. ^"Miss California History".Miss California.Archived fromthe originalon October 13, 2018.RetrievedAugust 21,2014.
  15. ^abClifford, 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.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
  17. ^"American Idol Audition of the Day: Arianna Afsar".The Hollywood Gossip.February 3, 2009.RetrievedFebruary 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.RetrievedMarch 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.RetrievedFebruary 28,2018.
  23. ^Nguyen, Minh (July 14, 2016)."Chicago Run of 'Hamilton' Announces Opening Leads".NBC News.RetrievedMarch 1,2018.
  24. ^"Tweets".Twitter.RetrievedApril 14,2021.
  25. ^Clement, Olivia (2019)."O'Neill Theater Center's 2019 Season Taps New Works by Craig Lucas, Hansol Jung, Charly Evon Simpson, Anna Ziegler, More".Playbill.RetrievedApril 14,2021.
  26. ^"We Won't Sleep".RetrievedAugust 9,2021.
  27. ^"The Next Generation Society".ACLU of Illinois.March 3, 2017.RetrievedOctober 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.Archived fromthe originalon December 24, 2021.RetrievedOctober 23,2018.
  29. ^"Full List of Speakers at Women's March in Chicago".NBC Chicago.RetrievedOctober 23,2018.
  30. ^ja-gaciak (May 5, 2018),Ari Afsar performing "We Won't Sleep" at The 2018 United State of Women Summit,archivedfrom the original on December 15, 2021,retrievedOctober 23,2018
  31. ^Miller, Thomas Kent (October 3, 2016).Mars in the Movies: A History.McFarland. p. 215.ISBN9780786499144.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Kristy Cavinder
 Miss California
2010 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Elizabeth & Isabella Tang
 Miss California's Outstanding Teen
2005 		Succeeded by
Summer Clark
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