For South Asians, entertainment flows through our blood. So it is no surprise that we have left our mark on digital media. Many young South Asians are making a name for themselves on the internet and have become full on sensations. We made an awesome list of our favorites!
Lilly Singh
Lilly Singh, also known as “IISuperwomanII,” is one of the most popular YouTubers in the game with over 11 million subscribers. She proves that even internet sensations can become household names. She is in the Top 100 YouTube Most Subscribed list and ranked 3rd in Forbes 2016 list of highest paid YouTube stars. Singh has touched the funny bone of audiences worldwide and has collaborated with celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, The Rock, and Selena Gomez. Lily Singh has officially crossed over from internet sensation to a legit media personality.
Check out her collab with Priyanka Chopra, it’s one of our favorites!
ZaidAliT
The 21-year-old Canadian born internet star Zaid Ali is known for his viral Facebook and YouTube videos. His multilingual talents gives him the ability to resonate with English, Hindi/Urdu, and even Punjabi audiences with equal warmth. Zaid Ali has also built a large following in Pakistan, where he was recently flown into to host the Hum Style Awards. With over 5 million likes on his Facebook page, young Zaid Ali is proving that being himself is a great look.
Deepica Mutyala
Deepica Mutyala’s rise to fame began when she released a video on reducing dark circles. Ten million views later she is a regular contributor and beauty expert on the Today Show and has also made appearances on other shows like Dr. Oz. Originally from Texas, Deepica now lives out her dream in New York as a social media personality under the handle @deepicam. Check out her Diwali inspired makeup tutorial!
Momina Mustehsan
Coke Studio hit for six when they choose Momina to sing alongside Rahet Fateh Ali Khan in a new rendition of Javed Akhtar’s infamous “Afreen Afreen.” Momina ended up being the perfect “Afreen” for the song. Her mixture of eye-catching natural beauty and soothing vocal talent has opened the doors of fame for Momina. On top being of a musician and engineer, she is now also a brand ambassador and philanthropist.
JusReign
Jasmeet Singh, also known as “JusReign,” is one of the funniest Desi comedians out there. His knack for humor goes beyond just skits (which are great too). He knows how to tell a story and how to be plain out goofy. Though he has amassed a mainstream following, his roots are of Sikh Canadian. Singh has used his platform to address serious issues as well. The comedian recently took to twitter to chronicle his experience being profiled by the TSA for wearing a turban. Check out his take on old-fashioned local Indian Grocery stores.
Sabrina Siddiqui
Sabrina Siddiqui is a Washington-based political reporter for Guardian news who has worked her way to prominence in the news industry. She covered the recent presidential election where she broke out with her opinion piece that chronicled her experiences as a Muslim reporter. Siddiqui has advocated for Journalism as a career choice for South Asians and hopes to influence young South Asians in following their political passions and dreams.
You can find her on theguardian.com
Or follow her on twitter @SabrinaSiddiqui
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