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Singing my way to stardom

How appearing on televised singing competitions was a path to success for two women from Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

Pop singers from Afghanistan and Northern Ireland tell Kim Chakanetsa what it's like to perform in, coach and judge major singing competitions.

Aryana Sayeed is the biggest female pop star in Afghanistan. She鈥檚 been a judge on one of the country鈥檚 biggest TV shows, Afghan Star and a coach on The Voice of Afghanistan. The multi-award winning performer was born in Kabul and raised in Switzerland, later moving to the UK. Aryana is also a women's rights activist, and wants to deliver a message of peace, love, and empowerment through her music.

Janet Devlin was a quarter-finalist in the UK singing competition The X Factor. At just 16 years old and from a small town in Northern Ireland, she didn鈥檛 love the attention that came with it and struggled against her inner critic on stage. She talks about the importance of being open about her mental health issues and addictions, and how the support of a female fanbase has brought greater confidence.

IMAGE DETAILS
L: Janet Devlin (credit - Emma-Jane Lewis)
R: Aryana Sayeed (credit - Neelio Paris)

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 18 Oct 2020 18:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Mon 12 Oct 2020 10:32GMT
  • Mon 12 Oct 2020 15:32GMT
  • Mon 12 Oct 2020 21:32GMT
  • Mon 12 Oct 2020 22:32GMT
  • Sun 18 Oct 2020 18:32GMT

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