Mariam Sayed Sameer Marbella Al-Alawi (born December 25, 1996), known professionally as Ivana Alawi (Tagalog:[ɪˈbanɐɐˈlaʊɪ]), is a Filipino actress, model, and YouTuber. She is also the CEO of her own skincare brand called Ivana Skin.[4][5]
Regarded as one of the biggest social media influencers of her time, Alawi is the most subscribed Filipino celebrity on YouTube,[6] having been honored by Google as the "Top YouTube Content Creator" in the Philippines for two consecutive years.[7] In 2019, she won "Best New Female TV Personality" at the PMPC Star Awards for Television.[8] In 2021, Alawi was ranked fourth on the "100 Most Beautiful Faces in the World" list by TC Candler.[9][10]
Career
Television
Alawi appeared on the sixth season of GMA-7's StarStruck, which aired in 2015, where she placed among the top 22 contestants. She was later signed by GMA Artist Center.[3][11]
Alawi launched a self-titled YouTube channel in 2019. Her channel currently is one of the most subscribed in YouTube Philippines.[16]
Personal life
Alawi was raised in Bahrain to a Filipino mother and a Moroccan father.[17] The third of four children, she eventually inherited all of her father's money after his death in 2018.[18] Her youngest sibling is former child actress Mona Alawi.[3]
Albee Benitez on February 12, 2024 publicly apologized to Alawi over speculations that they were having an affair after Ogie Diaz revealed on YouTube they were spotted at Tokyo airport. "I went there on a business trip as stated in my official travel order. I apologize to Ms. Alawi, there is no truth to any and all the rumors spreading and I am setting the record straight to avoid further hurt and damage to them," Benitez said.[19]
^ abcSalterio, Leah C. (September 17, 2015). "Looking for the Next Big Stars". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
^Cite error: The named reference Morrocan was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Sam Milby, Ivana Alawi & Anji Salvacion remember their late dads". Philstar. June 19, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022. Ivana also shared her greatest recollection of her Moroccan father, Samier Al-Alawi, who passed on in 2018. The actress and social media star received quite an inheritance from her dad, including a property in Bahrain, where she spent her childhood days.
^"3Pol Tropol Huli Ka Balbon!". CBCP Cinema. Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines. January 14, 2020. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
