- Celebrating young people of determination through Fashion, Art, Music and Entertainment, FAME is conceptualized by Rosy Ahmed, whose daughter Hana has Down Syndrome.

- A unique theatrical reflects the impact of the lockdown on the determined; learning to live & overcome challenges.

Fun-filled and vibrant, F.A.M.E will delight audiences with another spectacular evening presented by children and young people of determination. F.A.M.E., which stands for Fashion, Art, Music and Entertainment, is a unique annual event that provides a platform for participants to showcase their talents through these four creative channels. The show’s first live edition post COVID will take place on Friday, 26 November 2021 at 7pm at the Dubai World Trade Centre, with free entry for everyone.

With over 40 participants (ranging from five to 37 years old), the two-hour extravaganza includes a variety of musical acts, a fashion show, drama and dance performances from some of the country’s brightest young people.

The event will begin with a dramatic piece written by the show’s creators (brought to the stage in collaboration with Tender Hearts Arena) drawing on the pandemic, effects of lockdown and its impact on young people’s mental health. The story portrays people’s struggles, what they learnt and are still learning, from Covid-19.

During the pandemic, F.A.M.E. organized several online initiatives bringing together young people of determination from different parts of the world. Using various creative platforms, we focused on social skills, mindfulness and community support. This year, back live, our show aims to highlight the incredible resilience these young people have shown during turbulent times. We hope this enables those working with people of determination to look past labels and reflect on the emotional impact of the past year and a half. We want to encourage families and communities to work together and make a positive impact by finding creative ways to support the mental well-being of the determined through the arts,” explained Zahra Ahmed, former school counselor and Co-director of F.A.M.E.

The show has been choreographed and crafted to ensure each individual with determination gets sufficient support, access and time to display their love for arts while inspiring others to explore their inner potential. The collection for this year’s fashion show is curated by international fashion designer Rina Dhaka - referred by BBC as the ‘Jean Paul Gaultier of the East’.

F.A.M.E. is a free community event that hopes to attract an audience from all walks of life. “Ultimately, I hope this year's F.A.M.E. can reach a wider audience beyond the special needs community, inspiring them to come forward and enjoy the talents of our determined children and young adults,” says Rosy Ahmed, Founder and organizer of F.A.M.E. and CEO of Purple Vogue Events.

Additional notes:

F.A.M.E. was conceptualized in 2016 by Rosy Ahmed, whose daughter Hana (25) has Down Syndrome. Ahmed, who has first-hand knowledge of the challenges this community faces in their day-to-day lives, believes that initiatives such as F.A.M.E. will raise awareness and encourage integration and inclusion within the community.

In 2021, F.A.M.E. 2019 was nominated and won an audience choice award at the Toronto Lift-Off Film Festival.

This year, F.A.M.E. is pleased to announce Emirates NBD as the title sponsor for the event as part of their annual CSR program. The production will be supported by Tender Hearts, SEDRA and Step-Up Academy.