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NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer’s global, multi-platform brand dedicated to all things pop culture – has announced that Syrian comedian and internet sensation Amr Maskoun has been voted by the public as Middle Eastern Social Media Star of 2021 at this year’s People’s Choice Awards.
For the first time in the history of the ceremony, the People's Choice Awards opened a category dedicated to the Middle East, engaging fans from all over the region to vote between 27 October and 17 November.
The other nominees in the Middle Eastern Social Media Star of 2021 category included Kuwaiti fashion and style influencer Ascia; Saudi Arabian fashion and style influencer Fozaza; Lebanese fashion and lifestyle influencer Karen Wazen; Emirati storyteller Khalid Al Ameri; Egyptian Instagram sensation and beauty influencer Logina Salah; Iraqi YouTube sensation Noor Stars; and Bahraini filmmaker Omar Farooq.
23-year-old social media sensation and architecture graduate, Amr Maskoun, was born in Aleppo, Syria and rose to fame when his comedic videos and sketches began to go viral on the internet. He is best known for playing the personality “Umm Suzan”, a persona that he created amongst multiple other characters who have received great popularity all over the Middle East. From Syrian refugee in Turkey and France, to one of the largest social media influencers in the Arab world, Amr has reached over three and half million followers on Instagram and almost four million subscribers on YouTube in just seven years.
Amr is recognised by the People’s Choice Awards alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names. This includes entrepreneur, fashion and beauty mogul, Kim Kardashian West who will receive “The Fashion Icon” award; entertainment powerhouse, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson who will be honored with “The People’s Champion” award and Academy Award Winning Actress, Director and Producer, Halle Berry who will take home “The People’s Icon” award.
On receiving his award, Amr said: “Throughout my life, all external factors, especially during my period of asylum, made me feel that I didn’t have much worth and that I was inferior to others. I think that this award is proof that with passion and dedication, there is nothing that can stop you from dreaming.”
In celebration and acknowledgment of all eight social media influencers who were nominated for this first-time-ever People’s Choice Awards Middle Eastern category, an exclusive special will be aired this month, which delves into the lives of this year’s nominees and feature the exciting moment that Amr was announced as this year’s Middle Eastern Social Media Star. The episode will be available starting Wednesday 8 December exclusively on the region’s leading entertainment hub, OSN Streaming.
