Mozhdah Jamalzadah

Mozhdah Jamalzadah (Dari/Pashto: ; born December 27, 1981) is an Afghan Canadian singer, actress, model and activist. Jamalzadah formerly hosted The Mozhdah Show in Afghanistan, which discussed social issues such as women's rights.

Early life
Mozhdah Jamalzadah was born on in Kabul to Bashir and Nasrin, in a family of Afghan Tajik descent. During the civil war in Afghanistan, Jamalzadah's family fled the country to neighbouring Pakistan; Jamalzadah was five years old at the time. The family later moved and resettled in Canada. She was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she went on to study broadcast journalism at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, philosophy and political science at the University of British Columbia.

Music career
Jamalzadah began writing songs in the early 2000s. Her debut song at the end of 2007 was "(Sher) Bacha e Afghani". Jamalzadah was a contestant on the sixth season of Canadian Idol performing "Say It Right", eliminated at the audition stage.

Afterwards she released "Dokhtare Afghan" (Afghan Girl), which became instantly popular on Afghan TV stations and airwaves. The song called attention to past stories of strong female Afghan heroines, and earned Jamalzadah nominations and awards at the Afghan and International TV and radio stations. The song was written by her father, who Mozhdah has called a feminist.

"Don't break my wings, don't break my honor. I'm a proud Afghan girl."

As a result of her fame, in December 2009, she was offered the position to work with an up-and-coming television station in Afghanistan, 1TV, later earning her international attention. She was additionally the first woman to perform in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan without a hijab.

Her debut album, Act One, containing the previously mentioned songs and others, was released in 2009.

On International Women's Day 2010, Mozhdah was asked to be the first Afghan to perform at the White House for the President, Barack Obama and First Lady Mrs. Obama, singing "Dokhtare Afghan", a song describing the bravery of Afghan women.

She was a presenter of Afghan Star from 2012 to 2013.

The Mozhdah Show
Mozhdah's political and philosophical studies gave her the drive to pursue more difficult ambitions. Once she joined 1TV, she decided she wanted to make her trip to Afghanistan fulfill her desire to make a difference. She became the host of "The Mozhdah Show" which later became the subject of international media. The concept of The Mozhdah Show was created after The Oprah Winfrey Show, which gave Jamalzadah the title "Oprah of Afghanistan" by western media such as CNN and Time magazine.

On the Mozhdah Show, Jamalzadah and her producers created programming that addressed taboo topics in Afghan society, describing what it was like to be a woman, a child, and a person living in Afghan society. The Mozhdah Show also provided Mozhdah with the ability to explore and learn more about the current situation in Afghanistan through the eyes of Afghans.

Other ventures
Jamalzadah has also worked as a model for Cosmopolitan and Asian Woman Magazine.

In 2018, Jamalzadah was a panellist on Canada Reads.

In 2019, she had an acting role in the drama film Red Snow and had a biography of her life released by Greystone Books entitled "Voice of Rebellion".

Personal life
Jamalzadah is a self-proclaimed "nerd" and introvert, and has been the owner of a cat.

Awards

 * Excellence in the Arts CCLA Gala 2012 Toronto, Ontario, Canada (for outstanding commitment and contribution to a rich, diverse and dynamic Canada)
 * Best Light Song of the Year ATN Awards (2010)
 * Best Female Artist ATN Awards (2012)