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Noor Stars is the screen name for the Iraqi-American female entrepreneur, lifestyle vlogger, and media personality. She is popularly recognised as the first-ever Arab creator to cross the ten-million subscriber mark on her YouTube channel in 2019, thus farming one of the Middle East and North Africa’s most popular voices.
Noor Naim, the real name of Noor Stars, was born in Iraq in 1997. Her family fled their homeland due to the war and spent a few years in neighbouring Syria. After that, they moved to Turkey, where Noor started working at a young age. Later, the family moved to the United States again, where Noor graduated from high school and studied business administration. This girl overcame many hardships in her early years and grew up to be a determined and inspiring woman who would change her life for the better by pursuing YouTube stardom.
It was in 2014, while being in Michigan, that Noor created her YouTube channel and uploaded her first video. It was a short film, in which she talked to her audience about the content on her phone. The content was in Arabic, and she talked about many topics, including her daily life, cosmetics, comedy, family, and much more. Noor quickly gained popularity among her peers for her vibrant personality and relatable, entertaining stories. Moreover, her entertaining but honest personality allowed her to reach a vast audience of scrollers on the Middle East and North Africa region.
Currently, Noor Stars has more than 20 million YouTube subscribers and millions of other followers on Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms. She has achieved both critical and commercial success, working with major brands, running a podcast, entertaining her audience, and pursuing multiple other projects. She continues to be an influential figure in the Middle East and North Africa, motivating many young people, especially women, to pursue their dreams despite the seemingly impossible circumstances.
- Full Name: Noor Naim
- Nick Name(s): Noor Stars
Profession(s):
- YouTuber
- Entrepreneur
- Digital Media Presenter
- Podcast Host
- Beauty Blogger
- Date of Birth: June 21, 1997
- Height: 5' 3" (Approx. 160 cm)
- Eye Colour: Dark Brown
- Hair Colour: Dark Brown / Black
- Home Town: Baghdad, Iraq (Raised across Damascus, Syria; Istanbul, Turkey; and Michigan, USA. Currently based in Dubai, UAE)
- School: British International School Istanbul (Turkey) & Local High School (Michigan, USA)
- College: Attended university in the United States
- Education Qualification: Pursued a degree in Business Administration
- Religion: Islam
- Food Habit: Non-Vegetarian
- Relationship / Marital Status: Married
- Spouse: Karim Al-Sharif (A prominent businessman/investor. Following a massive public proposal, they celebrated their official marriage ceremony).
- Siblings: Banen Naim (Sister, also a YouTube creator) and Walid Naim (Brother)
- Language Known: Arabic and English
- Mobile / Whatsapp / Email ID: Private/Not publicly disclosed for safety and privacy reasons (Verified business inquiries are handled through her agency portals at noor@starsbusiness.org).
- Colour: Green
- Beverage / Dessert: Premium Middle Eastern treats and organic iced coffees.
Family Lineage & Mixed Heritage
Noor Stars (Noor Naim) has one of the most intriguing, self-created backgrounds in the modern creator economy, transforming from an Iraqi war refugee into a multi-millionaire media mogul.
- Parents: Noor’s father is a Kuwaiti, while her mother is an Iraqi. The family’s roots are traced back to the mother’s grandmother, who was an Iraqi of Kurdish ethnicity.
- Family Dynamic: Noor’s parents divorced when she was still young. She was raised by her single mother with her sister Banen and brother Walid in what turned out to be a very close-knit family.
The Refugee Journey (Iraq ➡️ Syria ➡️ Turkey)
Noor’s childhood was a blend of geopolitical dislocation and hardship, rather than the typical rise and fall of internet sensations:
- Evacuation in 2005: The girl was born in Baghdad and had to escape the war in Iraq in 2005 when she was eight years old.
- The Syrian Civil War in 2011: The family fled to Syria’s capital, Damascus, where they lived in comfort for six years before being caught in the crossfire of the war, forcing them to flee again.
- Hardship in Turkey in 2011–2014: The family of refugees then moved to Turkey. Living in poverty in a camp, Noor, 14, had to work illegally in a beauty salon from 6 am to 11 pm to afford a square meal. Consequently, her schooling was temporarily halted. However, she was able to study English at the British International School Istanbul for a while.
Relocation to the United States & "Starting from Zero"
Through a United Nations relocation program, Noor, her mother, and her siblings are granted asylum in the United States.
- The American Reality: The family settles down in Seattle, before moving to Dearborn Heights, Michigan, an Arab-American enclave.
- Challenges: With no money on landing, no close family to rely on, and no knowledge of the English language, Noor battles hard social barriers, finishing secondary high school and subsequently enrolling in Business Administration at the university.
The YouTube Revolution
While in Michigan in 2014, Noor buys a cheap camera and begins posting videos online to an Arabic speaking audience after feeling isolated and lonely due to the lack of any local friends. Initially using her videos as an outlet for her anxieties, Noor becomes a regional celebrity overnight, attracting millions of young female followers who relate to her honest, vulnerable nature and multi-cultural lifestyle.
Global Recognition and Brand Empire
Noor Stars is the screen name and business brand of Noor Naim, an Iraqi-American businesswoman, influencer, lifestyle vlogger, and media personality. She is recognised worldwide as the first Arab social media personality to surpass ten million subscribers on YouTube in 2019 (Aljazeera.net). The businesswoman has an outstanding reputation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region as one of the highest-instilled digital influencers.
Background information
Noor Stars is a multi-platform media personality whose primary YouTube channel boasts more than 22.4 million subscribers, with an additional 24.5 million followers on other platforms. The businesswoman was born in Baghdad, Iraq, but she had a chance to grow up in Syria and Turkey as a refugee before relocating to the United States. Currently, her content focuses on documenting her journey as a successful refugee and influential lifestyle vlogger and part of the Forbes 30 under 30.
Additional details
In addition to her online media empire, the influential businesswoman has expanded her portfolio by launching her designer’s scent line under the label Nafas . She also networks with prestigious companies such as Charlotte Tilbury Arabia, L’Oreal, and Damas jewellery in the production of make-up and luxury content for her web show, the Stars podcast, and other business needs.