50 Muslim Celebrities Who Are Changing the World

Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with about 1.8 billion followers worldwide. Scholars often date Islam’s founding to the 7th century, making it the youngest of the world’s major religions. Today, the faith is rapidly spreading  throughout the world. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. Experts predict Islam will overtake Christianity as the largest religion by the end of the century. 

Key Takeaways

• Muslim celebrities come from all around the world and work in a variety of fields.
• Muhammad Ali, Zayn Malik, and Ibtihaj Muhammad are examples of well-known Muslim celebrities.
• Numerous Muslim celebrities have spoken out against Islamophobia and advocated for tolerance.
• Muslim celebrities are outspoken about their faith and how it has enriched their life.
• Muslim women are breaking down barriers in Hollywood, taking home major accolades.
• Muslim athletes thrive in a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, and boxing.
• Many Muslim celebrities use philanthropy to give back to their communities.
• Muslim celebrities experience persecution, yet their fortitude inspires others.
• They act as role models for young Muslims, demonstrating that perseverance pays off.
• Muslim celebrities advocate for universal peace, equality, and justice.

1. Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan	Information
Full Name	Aamir Khan
Birthdate	March 14, 1965
Birthplace	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Religion	Islam
Occupation	Actor, Producer, Director
Years Active	1984 – Present
Spouse	Kiran Rao (m. 2005-present), Reena Dutta (m. 1986-2002)
Children	Junaid Khan, Ira Khan, Azad Rao Khan
Awards	Multiple National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards, Padma Shri
Known For	Acclaimed and commercially successful films

Mohammed Aamir Hussain Khan was born in Bombay, Maharashtra, India on March 14, 1965. He is an Indian actor, film director and producer. Khan has made a name for himself as one of the most renowned performers in Indian film over the course of a career spanning more than 30 years. 

Khan has received various honors, including nine Filmfare Awards, four National Film Awards, an AACTA Award, and a nomination for an Academy Award for one of his motion pictures. In 2003 and 2010, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, respectively. In 2017, the Chinese government bestowed an honorary title upon him.

2. Dr. Oz

Dr Oz	Information
Full Name	Dr. Mehmet Oz
Birthdate	June 11, 1960
Birthplace	Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Citizenship	United States, Turkey
Alma Mater	Harvard University (BA), University of Pennsylvania (MD, MBA)
Occupations	Television presenter, author, professor emeritus of cardiothoracic surgery
Years Active	1986–present
Organization(s)	HealthCorps, Sharecare
Television	The Dr. Oz Show
Political Party	Republican
Spouse	Lisa Lemole (m. 1985)
Children	4, including Daphne
Military Career	Turkish Land Forces
Education	Graduated from Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania
Professional Career	Professor of surgery at Columbia University, retired as professor emeritus in 2018
Notable Appearances	Regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show and host of The Dr. Oz Show
Political Career	Ran for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania in 2022 as a conservative Republican
Dual Citizenship	Holds dual citizenship of the U.S. and Turkey
Controversies	Received criticism for promoting pseudoscience and alternative medicine
COVID-19 Pandemic	Influenced decision-making during the pandemic as an informal advisor

Mehmet Cengiz Öz was born in Cleveland, Ohio on June 11, 1960. He is a Turkish American former professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Columbia University, television presenter, author, and former political candidate.The son of Turkish immigrants, Oz was raised in Wilmington, Delaware, and graduated from Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. 

A dual citizen of the U.S. and Turkey, Oz served in the Turkish Army during the 1980s for 60 days of mandatory training, specifically for citizens who reside in foreign countries, to maintain his Turkish citizenship. He subsequently began his residency in surgery at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in 1986. In 2001, he became a professor of surgery at Columbia University, and later retired to professor emeritus in 2018. In 2003, Oprah Winfrey was the first guest on the Discovery Channel series Second Opinion with Dr. Oz, and he was a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, making more than sixty appearances.

3. Zayn Malik 

Zayn Malik	Information
Full Name	Zayn Malik
Birthdate	January 12, 1993
Birthplace	Bradford, West Yorkshire, England
Occupation	British Singer
Years Active	2010–present
Formerly of	One Direction
Musical Career	Genres: Pop, R&B
Labels	Syco, Columbia, RCA, Mercury
Awards	American Music Award, MTV Video Music Award, Billboard Music Award (New Artist of the Year – 2013 and 2017)
Solo Career	Solo Debut Album: “Mind of Mine” (2016)
Collaborations	Taylor Swift on “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” and Sia on “Dusk Till Dawn”
Cultural Background	Born to a Pakistani Muslim father and a White British mother, formerly identified as Muslim
Education	Attended Lower Fields Primary School and Tong High School in Bradford
Personal Life	Previously in a relationship with model Gigi Hadid, father of one child

Zain Javadd Malik was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England on January 12th, 1993. He is an English pop and R&B singer. In 2010, Zayn made a solo audition for the British music competition television program The X Factor. He was brought back into the competition after being eliminated to help form the five-member boy band One Direction, which went on to become one of the most successful boy bands of all time.

In March 2015, he announced his departure from the band and inked a deal with RCA Records for a solo album. His subsequent joint singles “Dusk Till Dawn” with Sia and “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” with Taylor Swift were commercial successes around the world. He released his third album, Nobody Is Listening, in 2021 after releasing his second studio album, Icarus Falls, in 2018.

Zayn has won numerous honors, including an MTV Video Music Award and an American Music Award. As a member of One Direction in 2013 and as a solo performer in 2017, he is the only artist to have won the Billboard Music Award for New Artist of the Year twice.

4. Mike Tyson

Mike Tyson	Information
Full Name	Mike Tyson
Birthdate	June 30, 1966
Birthplace	Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Other Names	Iron Mike, Kid Dynamite, The Baddest Man on the Planet
Nationality	American
Religion	Islam
Profession	Former Professional Boxer, Actor, and Philanthropist
Achievements	Youngest Heavyweight Boxing Champion in history, Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the World, International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, and more
Conversion to Islam	Converted to Islam during his time in prison
Spouse	Kiki Tyson (m. 1986-1989), Monica Turner (m. 1997-2003), Lakiha Spicer (m. 2009-present)
Children	Mikey Lorna Tyson, Rayna Tyson, Amir Tyson, Milan Tyson, Morocco Tyson, Exodus Tyson, Miguel Tyson, and others
Philanthropy	Actively involved in various charitable activities, including supporting children’s hospitals and organizations combating homelessness
Film Development	Martin Scorsese developing a film based on Tyson’s life, with Jamie Foxx set to star as the boxer
WWE Involvement	Guest appearances at WrestleMania XIV, induction into WWE Hall of Fame, and participation in WWE events
Documentary Involvement	Starred in the documentary film “Nine Legends” discussing his time involved in the WWE

Michael Gerard Tyson was born in Brooklyn, New York on June 30, 1966. He is an American former professional boxer. Tyson is regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time. Tyson was given the nicknames “Iron Mike” and “Kid Dynamite” in his early career before becoming known as “The Baddest Man on the Planet” later. 

From 1987 to 1990, he held the undisputed heavyweight title. 12 of Tyson’s first 19 professional victories by knockout came in the opening frame. Tyson holds the record for being the earliest boxer to ever win a heavyweight title, taking home his first trophy at the age of 20 years, four months, and 22 days. The only heavyweight to successfully unify the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles in succession, he was the first heavyweight boxer to do so.

5. Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali	Information
Full Name	Muhammad Ali
Birthdate	January 17, 1942
Birthplace	Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Other Names	The Greatest, The Louisville Lip, Cassius Clay
Nationality	American
Religion	Islam
Occupation	Professional Boxer, Activist
Boxing Career	Weight Class: Heavyweight
Achievements	Olympic gold medal (1960)
Notability	Ranked among the most influential Muslims in the world

Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. was born in Louisville, Kentucky on June 3, 2016. He is an American professional boxer and activist. He is known as “The Best” and is usually cited as the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. He is recognized as one of the most important sports figures of the 20th century. He received the Sportsman of the Century award from Sports Illustrated and the BBC in 1999, respectively.

At the age of twelve, he started amateur boxing training. At the 1960 Summer Olympics, he won the gold medal in the light heavyweight class at the age of 18, and later that year, he went professional. He converted to Islam in 1961.

6. K’naan 

Name	Keinan Abdi Warsame
Date of birth	February 1, 1978
American	Somali-Canadian
Occupation	Musician
Gender	Male

Keinan Abdi Warsame was born in New York City on February 1, 1978. He is a Somali-Canadian musician. 

He gained notoriety when Coca-Cola selected his song “Wavin’ Flag” as its advertising anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In addition to hip hop, K’naan’s music incorporates aspects of global music and Somali music. Additionally, he participates in several charitable endeavors.

He gained notoriety when Coca-Cola selected his song “Wavin’ Flag” as its advertising anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. In addition to hip hop, K’naan’s music incorporates aspects of global music and Somali music. Additionally, he participates in several charitable endeavors.

7. Bella Hadid

Bella Hadid	Information
Full Name	Isabella Khairiah Hadid
Birthdate	October 9, 1996
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation	Model
Years Active	2012–present
Parents	Mohamed Hadid (father), Yolanda Hadid (mother)
Siblings	Gigi Hadid (sister), Anwar Hadid (brother)
Vogue Covers	Featured on 29 international Vogue covers
Model of the Year	Named Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council
Influential	Included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world
Early Career	Started modeling at the age of 16, signed to IMG Models in 2014
Record Breaker	Broke the record for most Vogue September covers in one year
Raised	Grew up on a ranch in Santa Barbara, California; later moved to Beverly Hills
Health Challenge	Diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in 2012, along with her mother and brother
Career Highlights	Notable runway debuts for top designers; featured in campaigns for major brands
Recent Endeavors	Dior Makeup ambassador; collaborations with Chrome Hearts; announced own clothing line

Isabella Khairiah Hadid was born in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 1996. She is an American model. She received the “Model of the Year” award from industry insiders for Models.com in 2016. Hadid has made 27 appearances on worldwide Vogue magazine covers in the last four years.

Hadid was raised in Santa Barbara, California, and she started modeling at the age of 16. She made her New York Fashion Week debut the month after joining IMG Models in August 2014. By appearing in five foreign editions of Vogue in 2017, Hadid beat Doutzen Kroes’ record for the most September covers in a calendar year (China, Spain, Brazil, Australia, and Arabia).

8. Ramy Youssef

Ramy Youssef	Information
Full Name	Ramy Youssef
Date of Birth	1991
Place of Birth	Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Egyptian
Occupations	Stand-up comedian, actor, screenwriter, director
Religion	Islam
Education	William Esper Studio
Notable Work	“Ramy” (Hulu comedy series)
Awards	Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy, Peabody Award
Nominations	Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy, Primetime Emmy Awards
Television Debut	“See Dad Run” (Nick at Nite sitcom)
Stand-up Comedy Special	“Ramy Youssef: Feelings” (HBO)
Co-Creator of	“Mo” (Netflix comedy-drama series)
Television Production Deal	A24, Apple TV+, Netflix

Ramy Youssef was born in New York City on March 26, 1991. He is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, and director. He was raised in a Muslim family, observed Islamic festivals, and has since kept up his practice of the faith. Youssef was raised in the New Jersey town of Rutherford, where he attended Rutherford High School. Later, he enrolled in Rutgers University, Newark, where he pursued studies in political science and economics, but he left before receiving his degree to enroll at William Esper Studio to concentrate on acting.

His most famous role was that of Ramy Hassan in the Hulu comedy series Ramy, for which he received nominations for the 2020 Peabody Award and the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy. In addition, he was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series at the Primetime Emmys.

9. Asghar Farhadi

Asghar Farhadi	Information
Full Name	Asghar Farhadi
Birthdate	May 7, 1972 (age 51)
Birthplace	Homayoon Shahr, Isfahan, Iran
Nationality	Iranian
Occupation	Film Director, Screenwriter, Film Producer
Notable Works	About Elly (2009), A Separation (2011), The Salesman (2016), Everybody Knows (2018), A Hero (2021)
Alma Mater	University of Tehran, Tarbiat Modares University
Awards	2-time Academy Award winner, Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix, Golden Globe winner
Spouse	Parisa Bakhtavar (married since 1990)
Children	2 (including Sarina Farhadi)
Influential Works	A Separation and The Salesman, both recipients of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film
Additional Honors	Legion of Honour from France, inclusion in Time 100 list of most influential people in the world

Asghar Farhadi was born in Homayoun Shahr, Isfahan, Iran on May 7, 1972. He is an Iranian film director and screenwriter. His worldwide films, which reveal sensitive and difficult tales of internal family disputes and center on the human condition, have won praise from critics. 

The dramas About Elly, A Separation, The Past, The Salesman, Everyone Knows, and A Hero are among his works. He was included as one of the most important persons in the world in 2012 on the Time 100 list. In the same year, France also awarded him the Legion of Honor.

10. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul Jabbar	Information
Full Name	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Birthdate	April 16, 1947 (age 76)
Birthplace	Harlem, New York, U.S.
Listed Height	7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Listed Weight	225 lb (102 kg)
High School	Power Memorial (New York City, New York)
College	UCLA (1966-1969)
NBA Draft	1969: 1st round, 1st overall pick
Playing Career	1969-1989
Position	Center
Coaching Career	1998-2011
Career Highlights	6× NBA champion
and Awards	2× NBA Finals MVP
As Head Coach	USBL champion
Career NBA Statistics	Points: 38,387 (24.6 ppg)
Basketball Hall of	Basketball Hall of Fame as player
Fame	College Basketball Hall of Fame – Inducted in 2006

Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr. was born in New York City on April 16, 1947. He is an American former professional basketball player. He participated in 20 NBA seasons for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Abdul-Jabbar won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) a record six times in his career as a center. He was also a record 19-time All-Star, a member of the All-NBA Team 15 times, and an 11-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. As a player, he was a part of six NBA championship teams, and as an assistant coach, he was a part of two more. He was twice selected as the NBA Finals MVP. He was selected on three NBA anniversary teams (35th, 50th, and 75th). He is recognized as one of the best players of all time and was dubbed the greatest basketball player of all time by Pat Riley, Isiah Thomas, and Julius Erving.

11. Hasan Minhaj

Hasan Minhaj	Information
Full Name	Hasan Minhaj
Birthdate	September 23, 1985
Birthplace	Davis, California, U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Alma Mater	University of California, Davis
Notable Achievements	Host of “Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj”
Religious Background	Muslim
Languages	Fluent in English and Hindustani
Personal Life	Married to Beena Patel since 2015; has a daughter and a son; overcame fertility struggles
Notable Influences	Richard Pryor, Dave Chappelle, Trevor Noah, Junot Diaz, Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, Stephen Colbert
Other Interests	Fan of the Sacramento Kings basketball team; considered becoming part-owner of the team

Hasan Minhaj was born in Davis, California on September 23, 1985. He is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host of Indian descent. Two Peabody Awards and two Webby Awards were given to Hasan Minhaj’s Netflix series Patriot Act.

From 2014 until 2018, Minhaj served as the senior correspondent for The Daily Show, where he originally rose to prominence. Before that, he performed stand-up comedy and had brief television appearances. Homecoming King, his debut stand-up comedy special, which debuted on Netflix on May 23, 2017, garnered positive reviews from reviewers and earned him his first Peabody Award in 2018.

12. Shabana Azmi

Shabana Azmi	Information
Full Name	Shabana Azmi
Birthdate	September 18, 1950
Birthplace	Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, India
Occupations	Indian actress of film, television, and theatre
Career Highlights	Acclaimed for portraying unconventional female characters across genres
Awards	Five-time National Film Award winner for Best Actress
Notable Films	Ankur, Arth, Khandhar, Godmother, Fire, and more
Social Activism	Advocate for women’s rights, child survival, fighting AIDS, and communal harmony
Honors	Padma Shri (1998) and Padma Bhushan (2012) from the Government of India
Family Background	Daughter of poet Kaifi Azmi and stage actress Shaukat Azmi, part of the Akhtar-Azmi film family
Parliament Membership	Nominated member of the Rajya Sabha (Indian Parliament’s upper house)
UN Goodwill Ambassador	Goodwill Ambassador for India appointed by the United Nations Population Fund
Education	Graduate in Psychology from St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai; Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Pune
Notable Stage Plays	Safed Kundali, Tumhari Amrita, A Doll’s House, and more

Shabana Azmi was born in Hyderabad, Hyderabad State, India on September 18, 1950. She is an Indian actress of Hindi film, television and theater.

As one of the prominent actors of parallel cinema—a new-wave movement noted for its serious subject matter and neorealism—which at the time enjoyed official support—Azmi made her film debut in 1974. Since then, Azmi has acted in several overseas productions and more than 160 Hindi films, both in mainstream and indie cinema. Many of her films have been praised for their progressive depictions of Indian society, including its rituals and traditions.

13. Riz Ahmed

Riz Ahmed	Information
Full Name	Riz Ahmed
Birthdate	December 1, 1982
Birthplace	London, England
Citizenship	United Kingdom, Pakistan
Alma Mater	Christ Church, Oxford (BA), Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupations	Actor, Rapper
Years Active	2006–present
Spouse	Fatima Farheen Mirza (married in 2020)
Awards	Academy Award, Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, British Academy Film Award
Also Known As	Riz MC
Genres	Hip hop, Political hip hop, British hip hop, Alternative rap, Conscious, Qawwali
Labels	Battered[a], Crosstown Rebels, Tru Thoughts, Customs, Mongrel[a]
Member of	Swet Shop Boys
Notable Achievements	– Named in Time 100 listing of the most influential people in the world

Rizwan Ahmed was born in London, England on December 1, 1982. He is a British actor and rapper.

As a rapper, Ahmed is a member of the Swet Shop Boys. He has released the hip hop albums Microscope and Cashmere to critical acclaim as well as commercial success. His song “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” won an MTV Video Music Award. Ahmed also appeared on the Hamilton Mixtape, which topped the Billboard 200 chart.

Ahmed is a well-known political rap artist who also works as an activist. He has promoted representation in the House of Commons and helped raise awareness and money for Rohingya and Syrian refugee children.

14. Shohreh Aghdashloo

Shohreh Aghdashloo	Information
Full Name	Shohreh Aghdashloo
Birthdate	May 11, 1952
Birthplace	Tehran, Iran
Citizenship	Iranian, American
Alma Mater	Brunel University
Occupation	Actress
Years Active	1976-present
Spouses	Aydin Aghdashloo (m. 1972; div. 1979)
Children	1
Awards	Primetime Emmy Award
Notable Roles	Dina Araz in “24”
Autobiography	“The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines”
Latest Series	“Arcane” (voice role as Grayson)
Notable Films	“House of Sand and Fog”
Notable TV Series	“The Expanse”

Shohreh Aghdashloo was born in Tehran, Iran on May 11, 1952. She is an Iranian and American actress. In Chess of the Wind, she made her film debut after playing numerous leading roles on stage. Aghdashloo’s next two movies, The Report and Sooteh Delan received positive reviews and made her a leading lady in Iran, despite the fact that both of them were outlawed in her own country.

During the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Aghdashloo relocated to England before coming to the United States and naturalizing there. Her performance in House of Sand and Fog earned her numerous awards from film critics and a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress after years of playing small parts in television and film.

15. DJ Khaled

DJ Khaled	Information
Full Name	Khaled Mohammed Khaled
Known As	DJ Khaled
Date of Birth	November 26, 1975
Nationality	American
Occupation	DJ, record executive, record producer, author, rapper
Notable Achievements	– Grammy Award winner for Best Rap/Sung Performance

Khaled Mohammed Khaled was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 26, 1975. He is an American DJ, record executive, record producer and rapper. The hip hop collective Terror Squad hired Khaled as a DJ for their live performances after he first rose to fame as a radio host on the station 99 Jamz in the 1990s. Khaled’s debut studio album, Listennn… the Album, earned gold certification when it was released in 2006 after he was given production credits on the band’s songs. 

Khaled has achieved success as a writer outside of the music industry, with his book The Keys appearing on the New York Times Best Seller list. He has also been seen in films such as Spies in Disguise and Bad Boys for Life as an actor.

16. Aasif Mandvi

Aasif Mandvi	Information
Full Name	Aasif Mandvi
Birthdate	March 5, 1966
Birthplace	Mumbai, India
Nationality	British American
Education	University of South Florida
Occupations	Actor, comedian, author
Known for	Correspondent on The Daily Show
Notable TV Work	The Brink, Evil, A Series of Unfortunate Events
Notable Film Roles	Spider-Man 2, The Last Airbender, Million Dollar Arm
Stage Work	Broadway production of Oklahoma!
Notable Book	“No Land’s Man”
Humanitarian Work	Relief 4 Pakistan, Endometriosis Foundation of America
Awards	Obie Award, Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Aasif Hakim Mandviwala was born in Mumbai, India on March 5, 1966. He is a British-American actor, comedian and author. 

From 2006 to 2017, he worked as a correspondent for The Daily Show. The HBO comedy series The Brink and the CBS/Paramount psychological drama Evil are among Mandvi’s other television credits. In The Last Airbender and Spider-Man 2 respectively, he played Commander Zhao and Mr. Aziz, respectively. On Broadway, he played Ali Hakim in Oklahoma!

17. Mahershala Ali 

Mahershala Ali	Information
Full Name	Mahershala Ali
Birthdate	February 16, 1974
Birthplace	Oakland, California, U.S.
Other Names	Mahershala Karim-Ali, Hershal Gilmore
Education	Saint Mary’s College, California (BA), New York University (MFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years Active	2001–present
Spouse	Amatus Sami-Karim (m. 2013)
Children	1
Awards	Academy Awards (2), Golden Globe Award, Primetime Emmy Award
Influential Recognition	Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World
Breakthrough Role	Richard Tyler in the series “The 4400”
Major Film Roles	“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Moonlight,” “Green Book”
Trailblazing Achievements	First Muslim actor to win an Oscar, First Black actor to win two Academy Awards in the same category, Second Black actor to win multiple acting Oscars
Critical Acclaim	Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Moonlight”
Versatility	Notable TV series roles in “House of Cards,” “True Detective,” “Luke Cage,” and “Ramy”
Upcoming Project	Cast as the supernatural superhero Blade in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film
Artistic Pursuits	Recorded rap music as Prince Ali, collaborations with other artists
Religious Background	Converted to Islam, changed surname from Gilmore to Ali
Advocacy	Spoken out about racial profiling and discrimination
Personal Life	Married to actress and musician Amatus Sami-Karim, has a daughter
Musical Taste	Hip hop fan, mentions favorite artists such as Planet Asia, Roc Marciano, Mach-Hommy, Pink Siifu, Fly Anakin & Mutant Academy, Mick Jenkins, Sage Elsesser, EARTHGANG, Westside Gunn, Hus Kingpin & SmooVth

Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore was born in Oakland, California on February 16, 1974. He is an American actor. Before landing his breakthrough role as Richard Tyler in the science fiction series The 4400, Ali started his career as a regular on television shows like Crossing Jordan and Threat Matrix after earning an MFA from New York University. 

In the David Fincher-directed fantasy The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, he played his first significant movie role. He became more well-known thanks to his supporting performances in the last two installments of The Hunger Games movie series and in House of Cards, for which he was nominated for his first Primetime Emmy Award.

18. Raekwon

Raekwon	Information
Full Name	Raekwon
Birth Name	Corey Woods
Also Known As	Raekwon The Chef, Shallah Raekwon, Lex Diamonds
Birthdate	January 12, 1970
Birthplace	Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation	Rapper
Years Active	1985–present
Labels	Aftermath, Ice H20, Loud, RCA
Member of	Wu-Tang Clan
Solo Debut Album	“Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…” (1995)
Notable Albums	“Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… Pt. II” (2009)
Record Label	Founder of ICE H20 Records
Personal Struggles	Overcame addiction and violence
Influence	Ranked among leading rappers
Collaborations	Ghostface Killah, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and more
Future Release	“Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 3” (upcoming)

Corey Woods was born in New York City on January 12, 1970. He is an American rapper. He first gained notoriety as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which became a household name after the 1993 release of their self-titled debut album. Later, Raekwon would pursue a solo career and put out his debut record, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, in 1995. 

The disc received praise from critics and is regarded by many as one of the best hip-hop albums of all time as well as a mainstay of rap in the 1990s.

19. Omar Sharif

Omar Sharif	Information
Full Name	Omar Sharif
Born	Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub (April 10, 1932)
Place of Birth	Alexandria, Kingdom of Egypt
Died	July 10, 2015 (aged 83)
Place of Death	Cairo, Egypt
Burial Place	Al-Sayyida Nafisa Cemetery
Nationality	Egyptian
Other Names	Omar el-Sherief, Omar Cherif
Education	Victoria College, Alexandria
Alma Mater	Cairo University
Occupation	Actor
Years Active	1954–2015
Spouse	Faten Hamama (married 1955, divorced 1974)
Children	1
Relatives	Omar Sharif Jr. (grandson)
Awards	César Award (2004)
Honours	Order of Merit

Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub was born in Alexandria, Kingdom of Egypt on April 10, 1932. He is an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country’s greatest male film stars.

His acting career began in his home country in the 1950s, but he is best known for his roles in productions in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and Italy. Over the course of his 50-year career, he appeared in over 100 movies and received numerous awards, including three Golden Globes and a César for Best Actor.

Five languages, Arabic, English, French, Italian, and Spanish, were all spoken by Sharif. He resisted the travel restrictions imposed by the Gamal Abdel Nasser administration in Egypt, which led to his exile in Europe.

20. Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai	Information
Full Name	Malala Yousafzai
Birthdate	July 12, 1997
Birthplace	Mingora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Education	Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (BA)
Occupation	Activist for female education
Organisation	Malala Fund
Spouse	Asser Malik (married in 2021)
Parents	Ziauddin Yousafzai (father)
Honours	Nobel Peace Prize
Notable Achievements	Youngest-ever Nobel Prize laureate

Malala Yousafzai was born in Mingora, Swat, Pakistan on July 12, 1997. She is a Pakistani female education activist. She became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2014. The first Pashtun and second Pakistani to win a Nobel Prize, she received it at the age of 17, making her the youngest recipient ever. 

In her native Swat, where the Pakistani Taliban occasionally forbade girls from attending school, she is renowned for advocating for human rights, particularly the education of women and children. Former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi called her Pakistan’s “most prominent citizen” after her advocacy turned into a global movement.

21. Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle	Information
Full Name	Dave Chappelle
Birthdate	August 24, 1973
Birthplace	Washington, D.C., U.S.
Medium	Stand-up, television, film
Genres	Observational comedy, surreal humor, sketch comedy, black comedy, satire
Notable Works	Chappelle’s Show, Half Baked, Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, Netflix Stand-up Specials
Awards	6 Emmy Awards, 4 Grammy Awards, Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
Filmography	Robin Hood: Men in Tights, The Nutty Professor, Con Air, You’ve Got Mail, Blue Streak, Undercover Brother, Chi-Raq, A Star Is Born
Stand-up Style	Satirical, observational, racial commentary
Influences	Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor
Rank	Ranked No. 9 on Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Stand Up Comics of All Time”
Philanthropy	Engaged in various charitable endeavors

David Khari Webber Chappelle was born in Washington, D.C. on August 24, 1973. He is an American stand-up comedian and actor. His satirical comedy sketch series Chappelle’s Show, in which he starred until he left in the middle of the third season of filming, is his most well-known work. 

Following a break, Chappelle resumed touring the country doing stand-up comedy. Chappelle was dubbed “the best” by a Billboard writer in 2013 and the “comic genius of America” by Esquire in 2006. He was ranked No. 9 in Rolling Stone’s list of the “50 Best Stand Up Comics of All Time” in 2017. 

22. Ice Cube

Ice Cube	Information
Full Name	O’Shea Jackson Sr.
Known As	Ice Cube
Occupation	Rapper, Songwriter, Actor, Filmmaker
Contributions	Contributed to gangsta rap’s popularity with lyrics on N.W.A’s album “Straight Outta Compton”
Solo Albums	AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, Death Certificate, The Predator
Film Career	Acted in over 40 films including “Boyz n the Hood,” “Friday,” “Barbershop,” and “Ride Along”
Directorial Debut	Directed the film “The Players Club”
Awards and Honors	Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A (2016)
Early Life	Born on June 15, 1969, in Los Angeles, California
Education	Attended George Washington Preparatory High School and William Howard Taft High School
Rap Career	Started in rap group C.I.A., later joined N.W.A and wrote lyrics on their debut album “Straight Outta Compton”
Notable Albums	“AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” “Death Certificate,” “The Predator”
Controversial Tracks	“No Vaseline” and “Black Korea” from the album “Death Certificate”
Other Ventures	Founded his own record label and produced albums for other artists

O’Shea Jackson Sr. was born in Los Angeles, California on June 15, 1969. He is an American rapper, actor, and filmmaker.His political rap solo albums AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, Death Certificate, and The Predator were well-received both critically and commercially. His lyrics on N.W.A’s 1988 album Straight Outta Compton helped gangsta rap gain widespread popularity.  Since the early 1990s, he has also maintained a successful film career. As a member of N.W.A, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

23. Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco	Information
Full Name	Lupe Fiasco
Date of Birth	February 16, 1982
Birthplace	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation	Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Entrepreneur
Years Active	2000–present
Labels	1st & 15th, The Orchard, Thirty Tigers (current), Atlantic (former)
Notable Albums	Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor, Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool, Lasers
Notable Hits	“Kick, Push,” “Superstar,” “The Show Goes On”
Grammy Nominations	3
Business Ventures	CEO of 1st and 15th Entertainment
Clothing Lines	Righteous Kung-Fu, Trilly & Truly
Charity Work	Summit on the Summit expedition, Haiti earthquake benefit single
Cultural Background	Raised Muslim, West African descent
Musical Influences	Jay-Z, Nas, The Watts Prophets
Education	Thornton Township High School
Mixtape Series	Fahrenheit 1/15
Collaborations	Kanye West, Jay-Z, Jill Scott
Latest Album	Drill Music in Zion (released in June 2022)
Other Interests	Fashion, designing sneakers for Reebok
Nickname	“Lu” and “Lupe”

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 16, 1982. He is an American rapper, singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor, his debut album, was a commercial triumph in 2006, catapulting him to prominence. 

Additionally, he performs under his actual name as the lead singer of the rock group Japanese Cartoon. Fiasco ran 1st and 15th Entertainment as an entrepreneur and served as its CEO. Fiasco has pursued a variety of entrepreneurial endeavors, including fashion, in addition to music. In addition to running two apparel brands, Righteous Kung-Fu and Trilly & Truly, he has also created footwear for Reebok.

24. Iman Abdulmajid

Iman Abdulmajid	Information
Full Name	Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid
Birthdate	July 25, 1955
Birthplace	Mogadishu, Somalia
Occupation	Model, Actress, Businesswoman
Spouses	Hassan, Spencer Haywood, David Bowie (deceased)
Children	Zulekha Haywood, Alexandria Zahra Jones
Awards	Fashion Icon lifetime achievement award
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Hair color	Dark brown
Agency	Tess Management (London)
Religion	Islam
Languages	Somali, Arabic, Italian, French, Swahili, English
Philanthropy	– CARE Global Advocate
Cosmetics Business	– Founder of Iman Cosmetics
Fashion and Modeling	– Muse to renowned designers
Acting Career	– Appeared in films and guest roles on TV shows

Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid was born in Mogadishu, Banaadir, Trust Territory of Somaliland on July 25, 1955. She is a Somali supermodel, actress, and entrepreneur. She is known for her charity efforts in addition to being a model for designers Yves Saint Laurent, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Gianni Versace, and Thierry Mugler. From 1992 until his passing in 2016, she was wed to rock star David Bowie. 

Iman has served as CARE’s first-ever Global Advocate since September 2019. In this capacity, she collaborates with CARE to further its purpose to build a society in which all people live with dignity and security. She presently works closely with the Children’s Defense Fund and is a spokesman for the Keep a Child Alive initiative.

25. Jermaine Jackson

Jermaine Jackson	Information
Full Name	Jermaine Jackson
Birthdate	December 11, 1954
Birthplace	Gary, Indiana, U.S.
Education	Birmingham High School
Occupations	Singer, Songwriter, Bassist
Years Active	1965–present
Spouses	Hazel Gordy, Alejandra Oaziaza, Halima Rashid
Children	7
Parents	Joe Jackson, Katherine Jackson
Genres	Pop, R&B, Soul, Funk, R-Soul
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Bass Guitar
Labels	Steeltown, Motown, Arista, LaFace
Associated Acts	The Jackson 5, The Jacksons
Notable Songs	“I Want You Back”, “I’ll Be There”, “Daddy’s Home”
Achievements	Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Notable Appearances	Celebrity Big Brother 5 (2nd place)

Jermaine La Jaune Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on December 11, 1954. He is an American singer-songwriter and bassist. He is primarily recognized for being a Jackson family member. Jermaine Jackson played bass guitar and was the Jackson 5’s second vocalist (behind his brother Michael) from 1964 to 1975. He has been a part of the Jacksons, as the group is currently called, since 1983.

Jermaine produced and recorded duets with Whitney Houston at her debut in 1985, had a solo career that ran concurrently with his brother Michael’s, had a few top-30 successes up to the 1980s, and was a producer for the band Switch. He reconnected with The Jacksons after seven years and remained throughout all of their splits and reunions.

26. Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam

Steven Demetre Georgiou	Information
Full Name	Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam
Birth Name	Steven Demetre Georgiou
Also Known As	Steve Adams, Cat Stevens, Yusuf
Birthdate	July 21, 1948
Birthplace	London, England
Genres	Folk, pop, rock, Islamic
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician
Years Active	1965–1980 (as Cat Stevens), 1995–present (as Yusuf Islam or Yusuf), 2017–present (as Yusuf / Cat Stevens)
Labels	Deram, Island, A&M, Mountain of Light, Jamal, Ya, Atlantic, Legacy
Records Sold	Over 100 million records
Musical Style	Folk, pop, rock, Islamic music
Notable Albums	Tea for the Tillerman, Teaser and the Firecat, Catch Bull at Four
Hit Songs	“Father and Son”, “Wild World”, “Moonshadow”, “Peace Train”, “Morning Has Broken”
Conversion to Islam	Converted to Islam in 1977 and adopted the name Yusuf Islam
Humanitarian Work	Dedicated himself to educational and philanthropic causes in the Muslim community
Return to Pop Music	Returned to making secular music in 2006 with the album “An Other Cup”
Recent Albums	“Tell ‘Em I’m Gone”, “The Laughing Apple”, “Tea for the Tillerman 2”, “King of a Land”

Steven Demetre Georgiou was born in London, England on July 21, 1948. He is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Folk, pop, rock, and, later in his career, Islamic music make up his musical palette. In 2006, he resumed creating secular music. 2014 saw his admission to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Stevens converted to Islam in December 1977, and the following year, he took the name Yusuf Islam. He gave all of his instruments away at auction in 1979 and gave up his music profession to focus on charitable and educational activities in the Muslim community. Since then, thanks to the efforts of his son Yoriyos, he has purchased at least one of these guitars back.

27. Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes	Information
Full Name	Busta Rhymes
Birthdate	May 20, 1972
Birthplace	Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Occupations	Rapper, Songwriter, Record Producer, Actor
Years Active	Since 1986
Genres	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, Progressive rap
Awards	12 Grammy Award nominations
Notable Songs	“Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check”, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See”, “Touch It”
Albums	“The Coming” (1996), “Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God” (2020)
Labels	Empire, Conglomerate, Epic, Violator, Republic, Cash Money, Young Money, Universal Motown, Interscope, Aftermath, J, Elektra

Trevor George Smith Jr. was born in New York City on May 20, 1972. He is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Busta Rhymes was a founding member of the group Leaders of the New School, which gained notoriety when they served as Public Enemy’s opening act while on tour. His popularity increased as a result of their presence in the song “Scenario” by A Tribe Called Quest. 

After the duo disbanded soon after, Rhymes became a highly sought-after solo musician, contributing to various songs for other artists prior to the release of his solo debut album, The Coming. He received a Grammy nomination for the album, which peaked at number 10 on the Billboard 200 album list and was given a platinum certification by the RIAA.

28. Akon

Akon	Information
Full Name	Akon
Birthdate	April 16, 1973
Birthplace	St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Nationality	Senegalese-American
Occupation	Singer, Record Producer, Entrepreneur
Notable Works	“Locked Up,” “Lonely,” “Smack That,” “I Wanna Love You,” “Don’t Matter,” “Right Now (Na Na Na)”
Labels	Konvict Muzik, KonLive Distribution
Collaborations	Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Lady Gaga, T-Pain, Michael Jackson, and more
Awards	Grammy nominations, Guinness World Records
Entrepreneurship	Founder of Konvict Muzik and KonLive Distribution
Philanthropy	Founder of Akon Lighting Africa
Notable Achievements	First solo artist to hold both the number one and two spots simultaneously on the Billboard Hot 100 charts
Musical Influence	African and international fusion, unique vocal style

Aliaune Damala Badara Akon Thiam was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 16, 1973. He is a Senegalese-American singer, record producer, and entrepreneur. Following the release of “Locked Up,” the lead song from his debut album Trouble, and “Lonely,” the second single, he gained notoriety in 2004.

Three Grammy Award nominations for Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and Best Rap/Sung Song for “Smack That”, were given to his second album, Konvicted. These two songs were followed by “Don’t Matter” and “Sorry, Blame It on Me,” which both peaked in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. The lead single from Freedom, his third studio album, was “Right Now”.

29. Q-Tip

Q Tip	Information
Full Name	Kamaal Ibn John Fareed (Q-Tip)
Birthdate	April 10, 1970
Birthplace	Harlem, New York City, U.S.
Occupations	Rapper, Record Producer, Singer, DJ, Actor
Years Active	1985–present
Genres	Hip hop, Jazz rap, Progressive soul
Labels	Jive, Arista, Universal Motown, Battery, GOOD, Def Jam, Epic
Formerly of	A Tribe Called Quest, Native Tongues, Soulquarians, The Ummah
Relatives	Consequence (cousin)
Film Career	Appeared in films such as Poetic Justice, She Hate Me, and Prison Song
Radio Show	Host of Apple Music 1 radio show “Abstract Radio” since 2015
Artistic Director	Named the artistic director for hip hop culture at the Kennedy Center in 2016
Teaching Role	Instructor of a jazz and hip hop course at New York University’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music

Jonathan William Davis was born in New York City on April 10, 1970. He is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and DJ. He goes by the moniker The Abstract and is known for his avant-garde jazz-inspired hip-hop production style as well as his philosophical, intellectual, and contemplative lyrical subjects. 

He began his musical career as the main producer and MC of the well-known alternative hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest in the late 1980s. He co-founded the production company The Ummah in the middle of the 1990s, and his gold-certified solo debut Amplified was released in 1999.

30. Mos Def/Yasiin Bey

Mos Def Yasiin Bey	Information
Full Name	Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def)
Birth Name	Dante Terrell Smith
Birthdate	December 11, 1973
Birthplace	Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Activist
Genres	Alternative Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop, Progressive Rap
Years Active	1987–present
Member of	Black Star
Notable Albums	Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star, Black on Both Sides, The New Danger, True Magic, The Ecstatic
Notable Songs	“Oh No”, “Ms. Fat Booty”, “Mathematics”
Filmography	Something the Lord Made, Next Day Air, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, 16 Blocks, Be Kind Rewind, The Italian Job, The Woodsman, Bamboozled, Brown Sugar, Dexter, House
Social and Political Activism	Advocate against police brutality, American exceptionalism, and for the rights of African Americans
Education	Attended Philippa Schuyler Middle School in Brooklyn
Religious Affiliation	Sunni Islam
Clothing Line	Created the “Mos Def Cut & Sew Collection” with the UNDRCRWN brand
Name Change	Legally changed name to Yasiin Bey in 2011, retiring the moniker Mos Def
Retirement	Announced retirement from music and film industries in 2016

Dante Terrell Smith was born in Brooklyn, New York City on December 11, 1973. He is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. His career in hip hop began in 1994 when he and his siblings formed the short-lived rap group Urban Thermo Dynamics (UTD), after which they contributed to Da Bush Babees and De La Soul albums. Together with fellow Brooklyn-based rapper Talib Kweli, he established the group Black Star. 

In 1999, he published his solo debut, Black on Both Sides, and was a member of the Rawkus Records roster. The New Danger, True Magic, and The Ecstatic followed his debut before his career took off. On their list of the “50 Greatest Rappers of All Time,” About.com ranked him at position 14. “Oh No,” “Ms. Fat Booty,” and “Mathematics” are a few of his hits.

31. Faran Tahir

Faran Tahir	Information
Full Name	Faran Haroon Tahir
Birthdate	February 16, 1963
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	Pakistani-American
Education	University of California, Berkeley (BA) Harvard University, Institute for Advanced Theater Training (MFA)
Occupation	Actor
Notable Works	Iron Man (2008), Star Trek (2009), Elysium (2013)
Parent(s)	Naeem Tahir (father) Yasmeen Tahir (mother)
Relatives	Imtiaz Ali Taj (maternal grandfather) Hijab Imtiaz Ali (maternal grandmother) Ali Tahir (Brother)
Ethnicity	Pakistani-American
Religion	Islam
Height	6 feet 1 inch (185 cm)
Languages Spoken	English, Urdu
Film Debut	The Jungle Book (1994)
Television Debut	Midnight Caller (1989)

Faran Haroon Tahir was born in Los Angeles, California on February 16, 1963. He is a Pakistani-American actor. Tahir was born in Los Angeles into a household of creative people. His grandparents were the novelists Imtiaz Ali Taj and Hijab Imtiaz Ali, and his parents were the actor Naeem Tahir and the radio broadcaster Yasmeen Tahir.

In 1989, Tahir made his television debut on Midnight Caller as a desk employee. He made his acting debut in 1994’s live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book by Disney as Nathoo. His latter acting credits include Raza in Iron Man, Captain Robau in Star Trek, and President Patel in Elysium, among other prominent parts.

32. French Montana

French Montana	Information
Full Name	French Montana
Birth Name	Karim Kharbouch
Stage Name	French Montana
Date of Birth	November 9, 1984
Age	38
Nationality	Moroccan-American
Residence	South Bronx, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Rapper
Record Labels	MontanaEpicCoke BoysBad BoyMaybach MusicInterscopeKonvict MuzikEvil Empire
Founder	Coke Boys Records
Genre	Hip hop
Debut Studio Album	Excuse My French (2013)
Breakthrough Single	“Choppa Choppa Down” (2010)
Second Studio Album	Jungle Rules (2017)
Billboard 200 Peak	Number three
Billboard Hot 100	“Unforgettable” (featuring Swae Lee)
Spouse	Deen Kharbouch (m. 2007; div. 2014)
Children	1

Karim Kharbouch was born in Casablanca, Morocco on November 9, 1984. He is a Moroccan-American rapper. He was born and reared in Morocco before moving to the United States at the age of 13. He is the creator of Coke Boys Records and Cocaine City Records, which he replaced. After releasing independent music for years, he inked a combined recording contract with Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group and Puff Daddy’s Bad Boy Records in 2012.

After releasing his first mixtape in 2007, Kharbouch achieved his first major success in 2010 with the song “Choppa Choppa Down.” On May 21, 2013, he made his first studio album, Excuse My French.

33. Humza Arshad 

Humza Arshad	Information
Full Name	Humza Mohammed Arshad
Date of Birth	3 June 1985
Age	38
Birthplace	Streatham, London, England
Nationality	British
Ethnicity	Pakistani
Medium	Web series, video blog, stand-up
Years Active	2009–present
Genres	Sketch comedy, documentary, observational comedy,
Notable Works	Diary of a Bad Man, Badman
YouTube Channel	Humza Productions
Subscribers	480.00 thousand
Total Views	118.5 million
Alma Mater	Croydon College, Kingston College, Richmond Drama School
Literary Work	Little Badman children’s novel series
Published Books	Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties (2019)
Honors	Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) (2021)
Social Impact	Workshops on preventing radicalization, anti-extremism

Humza Mohammed Arshad was born in Casablanca, Morocco on June 3, 1985. He is an English actor, comedian and writer of Pakistani descent. 

Diary of a BadMan and Badman are online series he makes. He is one of the most well-known internet comedians in the UK because of the more than 100 million views on his self-made YouTube videos. Arshad was hired by the East Midlands Police in October 2014 to conduct seminars at local schools in an effort to stop the radicalization of British Muslims. To warn students about the risks of being exposed to extremist ideologies, he created the 15-minute documentary “Think for Yourself.” At the fourth annual Shorty Awards, he was up for a nomination in the YouTube star category in 2012.

34. Maz Jobrani 

Maz Jobrani	Information
Full Name	Maziyar Jobrani
Stage Name	Maz Jobrani
Birthdate	February 26, 1972 (age 51)
Birthplace	Tehran, Iran
Nationality	American
Occupation	Comedian, Actor
Known For	Member of “Axis of Evil” comedy group
Notable TV Shows	Superior Donuts, The Colbert Report, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Education	Redwood High School, UC Berkeley (B.A. in Political Science and Italian)
Political Involvement	Former advisory board member of the National Iranian American Council (NIAC)
Podcast	Co-hosts “Minivan Men” on All Things Comedy podcasting network
Memoir	Author of “I’m Not a Terrorist, But I’ve Played One On TV”
Family	Married to Pretha Jobrani, two children
Associations	Board member of Persian American Cancer Institute (PACI.org), works with International Society for Children with Cancer (ISCC-Charity.org)

Maziyar Jobrani was born in Tehran, Imperial Iran on February 26, 1972. He is an American comedian and actor. He belonged to the comedic troupe “Axis of Evil.” The foursome made an appearance on a Comedy Central comedy special. Jobrani has further made appearances on radio, at comedy clubs, and in a number of films and television programs, including Better Off Ted. 

He has appeared in The Interpreter, Friday After Next, Dragonfly, and Jimmy Vestvood: Amerikan Hero, among other movies. On the 2017 CBS series Superior Donuts, he made frequent appearances as a character. He has served on the National Iranian American Council’s advisory board (NIAC).

35. Mohammed “Mo” Amer 

Name	Mohammed Mustafa Amer
Date of birth	July 24, 1981
American	Palestinian-American
Occupation	Stand-up comedian
Gender	Male

Mohammed Mustafa Amer was born in Kuwait on July 24, 1981. He is a Palestinian-American stand-up comedian. He is most known for being one-third of the comic group Allah Made Me Funny and for his Netflix comedy special Mo Amer: The Vagabond. Additionally, he co-starred for two seasons as Mo, the diner owner relative of comic Ramy Youssef, in the Hulu comedy Ramy. He plays the lead role in Black Adam. 

Additionally, he produced and starred in the Netflix television series Mo. The program, which debuted in August 2022 and is partially based on his own experiences as a Palestinian refugee growing up.

36. Mara Brock Akil

Mara Brock Akil	Information
Full Name	Mara Brock Akil
Birthdate	May 27, 1970
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Religion	Islam
Education	Northwestern University (Bachelor’s degree in journalism)
Occupation(s)	Screenwriter, television producer
Years Active	1994–present
Spouse	Salim Akil ​(married in 1999)​
Children	2

Mara Dionne Brock was born in Los Angeles, California on May 27, 1970. She is an American screenwriter and television producer. In 1994, Brock Akil made his television writing debut with the critically praised but short-lived Fox series South Central. She wrote for Moesha for four seasons before joining The Jamie Foxx Show in 1999 as a supervising producer and writer. 

Brock Akil executive produced and developed the UPN television program Girlfriends in 2000. She and her husband Salim Akil also created and executive produced The Game, a Girlfriends spin-off. Brock Akil started working as a consultant producer and writer for the ABC comedy Cougar Town in 2009. Being Mary Jane on BET, which debuted in 2013, was made by her.

37. Tania Gunadi 

Tania Gunadi	Information
Full Name	Tania Gunadi
Birthdate	July 29, 1983
Birthplace	Bandung, Indonesia
Nationality	Indonesian-American
Occupation	Actress, Producer
Languages	Indonesian, English
Residence	Los Angeles, United States
Career Start	2001
Notable Works	–
Achievements	Green card lottery winner
Additional Facts	Moved to Los Angeles as a teenager

Tania Gunadi was born in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia on July 29, 1983. She is an Indonesian-American actress and producer. She relocated to Los Angeles after winning a green card lottery when she was a youngster. She participated in a free adult ESL program to study English when she first arrived in the US. 

Later, she enrolled at a university in Los Angeles. She started as a telephone operator at Pizza Hut. After landing a role in a Disneyland commercial, Gunadi made the decision to pursue an acting career.

38. Salman Khan

Salman Khan	Information
Full Name	Salman Salim Abdul Rashid Khan
Date of Birth	27 December 1965
Age	57
Place of Birth	Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Occupations	Actor, Film Producer, Television Personality
Years Active	1988–present
Awards	National Film Awards, Filmfare Awards
Commercial Success	One of the most commercially successful actors of Indian cinema
Global Recognition	Listed among the highest-paid celebrities in the world by Forbes
Humanitarian Efforts	Promotes humanitarian causes through his charity, Being Human Foundation
Television Presence	Hosts the reality show “Bigg Boss” since 2010
Educational Background	Attended St. Stanislaus High School and The Scindia School
Notable Films	Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Karan Arjun, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Sultan
Controversies and Legal Troubles	Conviction in a negligent driving case, involvement in a poaching case, various controversies
Family	Father: Salim Khan; Step-Mother: Helen; Brothers: Sohail Khan, Arbaaz Khan; Sister: Alvira Khan Agnihotri
Philanthropic Work	Humanitarian efforts through the Being Human Foundation

Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India on December 27, 1965. He is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality.

Khan has won various honors over the course of a more than 30-year film career, including two National Film Awards as a producer and two Filmfare Awards as an actor. He is mentioned in the media as one of Indian cinema’s most financially successful performers. Khan appeared on Forbes’ lists of the highest-paid celebrities in the world in 2015 and 2018, the latter year making him the highest-ranked Indian.

39. Abbas Kiarostami

Abbas Kiarostami	Information
Full Name	Abbas Kiarostami
Birthdate	22 June 1940
Birthplace	Tehran, Iran
Death	4 July 2016 (aged 76)
Burial Place	Tok Mazra’eh Cemetery, Lavasan, Shemiranat, Iran
Alma Mater	University of Tehran
Notable Work	Koker trilogy, Close-Up, The Wind Will Carry Us, Taste of Cherry
Style	Documentary, Minimalism, Poetry Film
Movement	Iranian New Wave
Spouse	Parvin Amir-Gholi (m. 1969; div. 1982)
Children	Ahmad, Bahman
Awards	Palme d’Or (Cannes Film Festival), Golden Palm, Grand Jury Prize
Influences	Iranian New Wave, Use of child protagonists, Rural settings
Themes	Ambiguity, Simplicity, Complexity, Change, Continuity
Other Professions	Screenwriter, Film Editor, Art Director, Producer, Poet, Painter, Illustrator, Graphic Designer
First Film	The Bread and Alley (1970)
Last Film	Like Someone in Love (2012)

Abbas Kiarostami was born in Tehran, Iran on June 22, 1940. He is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, poet, photographer, and film producer. Kiarostami began making movies in 1970 and has since worked on more than forty projects, including documentaries and shorts. He shot outside of Iran for the first time in later films Certified Copy and Like Someone in Love, which were shot in Italy and Japan, respectively. 

In a 2018 critics’ survey conducted by BBC Culture, his movies Where Is the Friend’s Home?, Close-Up, and The Wind Will Carry Us were listed among the top 100 foreign films. Also included in the top 50 all-time films was Close-Up in the renowned Sight & Sound poll, which was done in 2012.

40. Rizwan Manji 

Rizwan Manji	Information
Full Name	Rizwan Manji
Birthdate	October 17, 1974 (age 48)
Birthplace	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ethnicity	Ismaili-Muslim of Gujarati Indian descent
Religion	Islam
Occupation	Actor
Known For	Schitt’s Creek, The Magicians, Outsourced
Notable Characters	Ray Butani, Tick Pickwick, Rajiv Gidwani
Education	American Musical and Dramatic Academy
Residence	Studio City, California
Spouse	Taslim Manji
Children	3
Advocacy	Active voice on issues facing South Asian and Muslim actors in Hollywood
Podcast	Co-hosts “The Brighter Side of News” podcast

Rizwan Manji was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on October 17, 1974. He is a Canadian actor.  His parents are Indian immigrants who left Tanzania. His family is Ismaili-Muslim and of Gujarati Indian ancestry, and he has stated that his faith is very important to him. 

He is most known for his performances as Ray Butani on Schitt’s Creek, Tick Pickwick on The Magicians, Rajiv Gidwani in the NBC Universal TV series Outsourced, and Jamil in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) television series Peacemaker and the movie Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

41. Shaquille O’Neal

Shaquille O Neal	Information
Full Name	Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal
Nickname	Shaq
Date of Birth	March 6, 1972
Height	7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)
Weight	325 lb (147 kg)
Position	Center
Teams Played For	Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics
NBA Championships	4
NBA MVP Awards	1
NBA All-Star Games	15
NBA Finals MVP Awards	3
College	Louisiana State University (LSU)
Basketball Hall of Fame Inducted in	2016
Business Ventures	Electronic music producer and touring DJ (known as DIESEL), minority owner of the Sacramento Kings (2013-2022), general manager of Kings Guard Gaming (NBA 2K League)

Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal was born in New York City on March 6, 1972. He is an American former professional basketball player. O’Neal is among the best centers and basketball players of all time. His height is 7 feet 1 inches (2.16 meters), his weight is 325 pounds (147 kilograms), and he has won four NBA championships. He is a center. He represented six different teams throughout his 19-year NBA career. 

O’Neal is a former basketball player who has also put out four rap albums, the first of which, Shaq Diesel, was certified platinum. O’Neal also performs as a DJ and uses the stage name DIESEL to create electronic music.

42. Gigi Hadid 

Gigi Hadid	Information
Full Name	Gigi Hadid
Birthdate	April 23, 1995
Birthplace	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Education	Malibu High School
Occupations	Model, television personality
Debut	Ranked in Top 50 Models by Models.com
Childhood	Started modeling for Baby Guess at a young age
Education	Graduated from Malibu High School
Breakthrough	New York Fashion Week debut
Notable Covers	Vogue (multiple editions), Schön!, Allure, Harper’s Bazaar
Collaborations	Tommy Hilfiger (Gigi by Tommy Hilfiger collection), Reebok, Messika Jewelry
Philanthropy	Raised funds for Global Lyme Alliance through MasterChef participation
Activism	Protested against the “Muslim Ban”
Humanitarian Work	Collaborated with UNICEF to help children worldwide
Clothing Line	Launched solo clothing line, Guest in Residence

Jelena Noura “Gigi” Hadid was born in Los Angeles, California on April 23, 1995. She is an American model and television personality. She claims to be descended from Prince of Nazareth and Sheik of Galilee Daher Al Omer through her father.

She entered the Top 50 Models list at Models.com for the first time in November 2014. She received the British Fashion Council’s 2016 International Model of the Year award. She has been on 35 different worldwide Vogue magazine covers in the last four years.

43. Mariah Idrissi

Mariah Idrissi	Information
Full Name	Mariah Idrissi
Born	August 16, 1992
Birthplace	London, England, United Kingdom
Nationality	British
Occupations	Model
Years Active	2015–present
Known For	First Muslim hijab-wearing model
Relatives	Moulay Ahmed Derissy (Brother)
Modeling Agencies	Select Modeling Agency
Campaigns & Features	H&M’s “Close the Loop” campaign
Modest Fashion	Leading authority on “modest fashion”
Humanitarian Work	Advocate for Syrian Women
Awards & Recognition	Nominated for ‘Cultural Icon of the Year’ award

Mariah Idrissi was born in London, United Kingdom on August 16, 1992. She is a British model, public speaker, and online personality. 

Idrissi made history in 2015 when she became the first Muslim model to wear a hijab. She did so as part of H&M’s “Close the Loop” advertising campaign. Since then, Idrissi has become a leading expert on “modest fashion,” appearing on both domestic and international news programs to discuss the topic. Idrissi signed with the modeling agency Select in 2016 and Insanity Group Management in 2017.

44. Anggun 

Anggun	Information
Full Name	Anggun Cipta Sasmi
Birthdate	April 29, 1974
Birthplace	Jakarta, Indonesia
Other Names	Anggun C Sasmi
Occupations	Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Talent Show Judge, Philanthropist
Height	163 cm (5 ft 4 in)
Musical Career	Genres: Rock, Pop-rock, World, Pop, Electropop, R&B, Urban, Dance
International Success	Best-selling album by an Asian artist outside Asia with “Snow on the Sahara”
Eurovision Song Contest	Represented France in Eurovision Song Contest 2012 with the song “Echo (You and I)”
Achievements	Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the Government of France
Humanitarian Work	Global ambassador for the International Year of Microcredit in 2005
Family Background	Second child and first daughter of Darto Singo, a Javanese writer, and Dien Herdina, a housewife
Education	Attended a Catholic school for elementary education

Anggun Cipta Sasmi was born in Jakarta, Indonesia on April 29, 1974. She is an Indonesian-born French singer-songwriter and television personality. She started performing when she was seven years old and two years later she made a children’s CD. 

In 1986, Anggun released Dunia Aku Punya, her debut studio album with rock influences, with the aid of Indonesian producer Ian Antono. With the release of the track “Mimpi,” which Rolling Stone named one of the 150 greatest Indonesian songs of all time, she gained even more popularity. Following it, she released a number of singles and three more studio albums, solidifying her position as one of the most well-known Indonesian female rock performers of the early 1990s.

45. Big Daddy Kane

Big Daddy Kane	Information
Full Name	Big Daddy Kane
Birth Name	Antonio Hardy
Also known as	B.D.K., Dark Gable, King Asiatic Nobody’s Equal, Blackanova, Count Macula
Birthdate	September 10, 1968
Birthplace	New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper, producer, actor
Years Active	1986–present
Labels	Cold Chillin’ Records, Warner Bros., MCA, Blackheart, Mercury, PolyGram
Group Affiliation	Juice Crew
Spouse	Shawnette Hardy (m. 2010)
Children	2
Notable Achievements	– Rolling Stone ranked his song “Ain’t No Half-Steppin'” as one of the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.

Antonio Hardy was born in New York City on September 10, 1968. He is an American rapper. He started his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is considered as one of hip hop’s most influential and accomplished MCs. According to Rolling Stone, he was “a great writer of rap’s late-golden period and a big impact on a generation of MCs,” ranking his song “Ain’t No Half-Steppin'” at number 25 on their list of The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.

46. T-Pain 

T Pain	Information
Full Name	T-Pain (Faheem Rashad Najm)
Birthdate	September 30, 1984
Birthplace	Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop, R&B
Occupation(s)	Rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer
Years Active	1999-present
Labels	Cinematic, Nappy Boy, Konvict, RCA, Jive
Spouse(s)	Amber Wyatt (married in 2003)
Children	3
Notable Achievements	Popularized creative use of Auto-Tune effect

Faheem Rashad Najm was born in Tallahassee, Florida on September 30, 1984. He is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.

T-Pain helped make the creative use of the Auto-Tune pitch correction effect, utilized with extreme parameter settings to create unique voice sounds, popular throughout his career as a singer. The rappers Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Future, and Travis Scott, among others, have all adopted the effect as a result of his success with it. T-Pain started his own vanity label imprint, Nappy Boy Entertainment, in 2005 after signing with artist Akon’s Konvict Muzik.

47. SZA 

SZA	Information
Full Name	Solána Imani Rowe
Birthdate	November 8, 1989
Birthplace	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Occupations	American R&B singer, songwriter
Years Active	2010s – present
Notable EPs	See.SZA.Run (2012), S (2013)
Debut Studio Album	Ctrl (2017)
Notable Songs	“Love Galore” (featuring Travis Scott), “The Weekend”, “Good Days”
Collaborations	Rihanna’s “Consideration”, Maroon 5’s “What Lovers Do”, Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars”
Awards	Grammy Award, American Music Award, Billboard Women in Music Awards
Career Achievements	Ctrl certified triple platinum by RIAA, “Kiss Me More” reached top ten on Billboard Hot 100, SOS (2022) reached number one on Billboard 200
Religion	Muslim
Education	Attended Columbia High School, studied marine biology at Delaware State University (dropped out)

Solána Imani Rowe was born in St. Louis, Missouri on November 8, 1989. She is an American singer and songwriter. Following her regular education, she went to a Muslim preparatory school every day. Rowe, however, decided to quit wearing her hijab in the seventh grade as a result of bullying after the September 11 attacks.

Beginning her career as a musician in the early 2010s, she released two extended plays before joining the hip-hop record company Top Dawg Entertainment, through which she released Z, her third EP and first retail release. She collaborated with Beyoncé and Nicki Minaj to write “Feeling Myself” in the same year. In Rihanna’s song “Consideration” from 2016, she was a featured performer.

48. Swizz Beatz 

Swizz Beatz	Information
Full Name	Swizz Beatz
Birthdate	September 13, 1978
Birthplace	Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Occupations	Record Producer, Rapper, DJ, Songwriter, Record Executive, Hype Man
Years Active	1997–present
Television	Co-creator of Verzuz
Associated Labels	Ruff Ryders, Full Surface Records, J Records, Everest Entertainment, Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group
Notable Collaborations	DMX, Jay-Z, Eve, Cassidy, Beyoncé, T.I., Kanye West, Busta Rhymes, Whitney Houston, and more
Entrepreneurship	Fashion design, Art collecting, Creative Director for Monster Cable and Reebok
Philanthropy	Involvement with charities and social causes
Personal Life	Married to Alicia Keys, two children

Kasseem Daoud Dean was born in New York City on September 13, 1978. He is an American record producer, rapper, DJ and songwriter.  As a DJ, Dean started his musical career. At the age of 18, his family’s record company, Ruff Ryders, as well as his connection and collaboration with East Coast rapper DMX helped him start to establish himself in the hip hop community. 

Working with DMX as his producer, DJ, and hype man helped Dean become a well-known figure in the hip hop world.

49. Richard Thompson 

Richard Thompson	Information
Full Name	Richard Thompson
Birthdate	April 3, 1949
Birthplace	Notting Hill, London, England
Occupation	Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist
Genres	Folk Rock, Folk
Years Active	1967–present
Instruments	Vocals, Guitar
Labels	Island, Elixir, Hannibal, Polydor, Capitol, Cooking Vinyl, Proper, Beeswing, New West
Member of	Fairport Convention, The Bunch, The GP’s
Spouse(s)	Linda Thompson, Nancy Covey, Zara Phillips
Awards	Ivor Novello Award (Songwriting), Grammy Award nominations
Notable Song	“1952 Vincent Black Lightning”
Book	Beeswing: Losing my Way and Finding my Voice, 1967-1975
Religion	Muslim
Honors	Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Richard Thompson was born in Notting Hill, London, England on April 3, 1949. He is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist. As the principal guitarist and composer for the folk rock band Fairport Convention, which he co-founded in 1967, Thompson originally rose to fame in the late 1960s. 

Following his departure from the band in 1971, Thompson issued Henry the Human Fly, his first solo album, in 1972. His musical taste, the themes covered by his lyrics, and the worldview he expresses via his songs have not changed significantly. He’s still a devout Muslim.

50. Yuna

Yuna	Information
Full Name	Yunalis Zaraai
Birthdate	November 14, 1986
Birthplace	Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia
Occupations	Singer, songwriter
Years active	2006–present
Spouse	Adam Sinclair (married in 2018)
Musical Genres	Pop, R&B
Labels	Yuna Room, Indie-Pop, Fader Label, Verve
Breakout Single	“Crush” (featuring Usher)
Billboard Success	Peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard Adult R&B chart
Notable Collaborations	Usher, Jhené Aiko, DJ Premier
Latest Album	“Chapters” (released in 2016)
Directing Venture	Directed music videos for Malaysian artists
RIAA Certification	Gold certification for “Crush”

Yunalis binti Mat Zara’ai was born in Alor Setar, Kedah, Malaysia on November 14, 1986. She is a Malaysian singer. Her first big break came from her Myspace song upload, which went viral and earned over a million plays. Her music was discovered by an indie-pop label/management business thanks to her internet popularity, and at the beginning of 2011 she signed with the Fader Label. 

Her breakthrough track “Crush,” which she co-wrote with Usher and reached number three on the US Billboard Adult R&B chart, is what most people remember her for. She ranked second among female singers in Malaysia between 2010 and 2015, behind only Siti Nurhaliza and Stacy.

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