Nour Issam Ardakani (Arabic: نور عصام أردكاني; born November 30, 2001) is a Lebanese singer, dancer and model. She currently represents Lebanon and the MENA region in Now United, a global pop group founded by Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller.
Career
2020–present: Now United
She was announced as the 16th member of the global pop group Now United on 21 September 2020 as Lebanon's representative, participated in the group's auditions and competed as a finalist with Alya Al Ali (عليا أل علي in Arabic), from the United Arab Emirates.
Before joining Now United, Nour had a band with her friends called Front Row.
Her first song as a member of Now United was "Habibi". She later released the Arabic version of the song called "حبيبي" ("Habibi" in Arabic).
With the group and at the age of 19, Nour was the first Lebanese to be nominated for Meus Prêmios Nick, the Brazilian version of Nickelodion's Kids' Choice Awards.
Nour went on a global tour with Now United since March 11th,2022 (Wave Your Flag World Tour).
Interviews and editorials
Nour was considered "arguably the biggest Gen Z role model in the Arab world" by Cosmopolitan Middle East in the article Nour Ardakani Is Putting Up a Now United Front.[1] She has also been interviewed by ET Arabia, The Insider, MTV Lebanon, Jornal Al Khaleej,[2] Al Arabiya and Al Jadeed.
Some major music websites such as Variety,[3] The National News,[4] NBC,[5] and Harper's Bazaar Arabia[6] covered Nour's performance and her career.
Personal life
Nour is from a Baha’i family. She used to live with her mother, father, and two siblings, Jad and Ryan, in Mansourieh, Lebanon, but now she currently lives in Los Angeles due to her work in Now United.[citation needed]