Gina Dirawi

Gina Dirawi (Arabic: جينا ديراوي‎; born 11 December 1990) is a Swedish television presenter, singer-songwriter, radio personality, blogger, comedian and actress. While she is best known as the first woman ever to host Melodifestivalen on three occasions, she has also hosted several other television and radio shows. She has also released music and played the lead role in the play "Donna Juanita" on Stadsteatern in Stockholm.

Gina Dirawi
Dirawi after winning a Kristallen award in 2013
Born
Gina Dirawi

(1990-12-11) 11 December 1990
Sundsvall, Sweden
OccupationTelevision host, singer, comedian, actress
Years active2009–present
Known forHosting Melodifestivalen in 2012, 2013 and 2016

Personal life

Dirawi was born on 11 December 1990 in Sundsvall, Sweden, the second of four children. She is of Palestinian descent and her family comes from Lebanon. Dirawi's paternal grandparents convinced her father to move to Sweden. After eventually moving to Sundsvall to study, he returned to Lebanon to marry Dirawi's mother. Her parents settled in Sundsvall, as did her paternal grandparents who moved to the city a couple of years later.[1] Her grandfather was an imam in Sundsvall until his death in March 2011.[2]

Career

Dirawi began her career in March 2009, with her blog Ana Gina,[3] and by August of the same year began vlogging.[4]

Her vlog included satirical depictions of recurring characters from Swedish and Palestinian culture. She continued to gain popularity by sharing videos on YouTube, where her videos have over 18 million views as of May 2016.[5]

Dirawi is best known as the first woman ever to host Melodifestivalen on three occasions: in 2012 alongside Helena Bergström and Sarah Dawn Finer,[6] in 2013 alongside Danny Saucedo and in 2016 with guest co-hosts in each show.[7][8]

She won the award for best female TV host at the Kristallen in 2012 and 2013.

Dirawi also hosted the Swedish Grammy Awards in 2014 and 2015, as well as Musikhjälpen in 2011, 2012 and 2015, the same year she hosted SVT's traditional Christmas Eve programme.[9]

It was announced on 20 April 2016 that Dirawi will be the Swedish spokesperson at the annual Eurovision Song Contest, announcing the results of the Swedish jury vote from Eurovision: The Party in the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm. She also hosted Studio Eurovision, a series of three one-hour shows broadcast before the two semi-finals and the final, covering news and events from the contest.[10]

She co-hosted Idol 2017 along with Pär Lernström, she will continue in 2018.

Discography

Singles
Title Released Record label Reference
"LOVE" 27 August 2014 Gina Dirawi [11]
"Mad Woman" 10 March 2015 Universal Music [12]

References
  1. Hagen, Cecilia (30 January 2011). ""Jag har blivit mordhotad"" ["I have been threatened with murder"] (in Swedish). Expressen. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  2. "The Fabulous Life of Ana Gina – 4 mars 2011". Retrieved 24 December 2011. Archived 25 May 2012 at Archive.today
  3. Brännström, Linus (4 January 2012). "Gina Dirawi: "Jag gör humor med ett syfte"" [Gina Dirawi: "I do humor with a purpose"]. Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  4. Hagen, Cecilia (30 January 2011). ""Jag har blivit mordhotad"" ["I have been threatened with murder"]. Expressen (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  5. "Ana Gina". YouTube. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  6. "Gina Dirawi programledare för Melodifestivalen 2012" [Gina Dirawi host for Melodifestivalen 2012]. SVT (in Swedish). 12 August 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  7. Fahl, Hanne (17 November 2015). "Gina Dirawi leder Melodifestivalen 2016" [Gina Dirawi hosts Melodifestivalen 2016]. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  8. Källman, Pär (17 November 2015). "Gina Dirawi och stjärngänget: Här är programledarna för Melodifestivalen 2016" [Gina Dirawi and the stars: here are the hosts of Melodifestivalen 2016]. SVT (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  9. Parkström, Sara (20 November 2015). "Gina Dirawi är årets julvärd i SVT" [Gina Dirawi is this year's julvärd on SVT]. SVT (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  10. Granger, Anthony (20 April 2016). "Sweden: Gina Dirawi To Announce The Swedish Vote". Eurovoix. Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  11. "LOVE - Single av Gina Dirawi på iTunes". iTunes (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 April 2016.
  12. "Mad Woman - Single av Gina Dirawi på iTunes". iTunes (in Swedish). Retrieved 22 April 2016.
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