Kartarpur Sahib

Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur (Punjabi: ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਦਰਬਾਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ / Urdu: گردوارہ دربار صاحب کرتارپور‎), also called Kartarpur Sahib, is a gurdwara in Kartarpur, located in Shakargarh, Narowal District, in the Punjab province of Pakistan.[1][2] It is built on the historic site where the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, settled and assembled the Sikh community after his missionary travels (Udasis to Haridwar, Mecca-Medina, Lanka, Baghdad, Kashmir, Nepal[3][4]) and lived for 18 years until his death in 1539.[5]

The gurdwara is also notable for its location near the border between Pakistan and India. The shrine is visible from the Indian side of the border.[6] Indian Sikhs gather in large numbers on bluffs to perform darshan, or sacred viewing of the site, from the Indian side of the border.[7] The Kartarpur Corridor was opened by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on 9 November 2019, the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This historic moment officially allowed Indian Sikh pilgrims rare visa-free access to the site in Pakistan
Location
Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib is located in the Shakargarh Tehsil of the Narowal District in Punjab, Pakistan.[10] It is a top tourist attraction for people visiting Pakistan. The shrine is located five kilometres from the Indo-Pakistani border.[11]

Near: Sughra Shafi Medical Hospital Complex - Muridike Road, Narowal, Punjab, Pakistan

Significance
See also: Sikhism in Pakistan
The gurdwara was built to commemorate the site where Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, settled after his missionary work and did farming.[12][13] Guru Nanak founded the Kartarpur town by Ravi river in 1515, plowing the fields and setting up a community kitchen, or Langar.[14] He assembled a Sikh commune there, and lived for 18 years until his death on 22 September 1539. The gurdwara is built where Guru Nanak is said to have died.[5] It is therefore the second holiest site of the Sikh religion after Gurdwara Janam Asthan – the birthplace of Guru Nanak located in Nankana Sahib, Pakistan.[15]

Here, Guru Nanak gave the three principles of Kirat Karo, Naam Japo, Wand Chako, which means work hard for a livelihood, keep remembering the God and share your bounties with the world. Guru's teachings have been peace, harmony and universal brotherhood. Guru Nanak believed in equality between castes, religions, and genders and gave the word Ik Onkar meaning there is only one God.[16]

According to Lahore-based art historian Fakr Syed Aijazuddin, the shrine houses the last copies of the original Guru Granth Sahib. A Sikh pilgrim remarked, "every step here reminds us of the Guru's life".[17] Indian Sikhs gather in large numbers on bluffs on the Indian side of the border to obtain darshan, or sacred viewing, of the site.[7]

As per popular legend, after Guru Nanak died, there was a dispute between the local Hindus and Muslims. Muslims, who saw him as their pir, wanted to bury him while Hindus, who claimed Nanak as their guru, wanted to cremate his body. But the legend follows that Guru Nanak's body was turned into flowers, which were then divided between the two communities.[14]

Shrine
The Shrine is located at Kartarpur, a small town beside the River Ravi in Punjab and it is one of the holiest place for up to 30 million Sikhs around the world.[18] The main shrine building was built in 1925 at a cost of Rs. 1,35,600, donated by Sardar Bhupindar Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala.[17] It was repaired by the Government of Pakistan in 1995, and fully restored in 2004, at a significant amount. In May 2017, the US-based NGO "EcoSikh" proposed establishment of a 100-acre "sacred forest" around the shrine.[19] The Gurudwara was further expanded in November 2018 with construction of a new courtyard, museum, library, dormitories, locker rooms Spread across area of 42 acres (17 hectares).[9] There is a 20-foot well, made of small red bricks which is 200 year old and believed to have been built during the lifetime of Guru Nanak Dev.[20]

Access via Kartarpur Corridor
Main article: Kartarpur Corridor
Proposals for visa-free access
The call for a visa-free Kartarpur Sahib corridor was an old, strong, persistent demand from the Sikh community.[21] The move was mooted first during the then Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s bus ride to Lahore in 1999, while Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf approved the idea in 2000, and issued various tenders for construction purposes.[22] India, however, maintained that the two-decade-old request has been lying pending with Pakistan.[23] As the shrine lies only 3 kilometers from the border with India, Pakistan in the year 2000 agreed to allow Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the shrine visa-free by constructing a bridge from the border to the shrine.[24][25][26]

In May 2017, Indian parliamentary standing committee members announced that no such corridor would be established, given the poor state of India-Pakistan relations.[27] Instead, it was said that the government of India might install four binoculars for viewing the site from Dera Baba Nanak situated close to the India–Pakistan border in the Gurdaspur district of the Indian state of Punjab.[7]

In August 2018, then Tourism Minister of the Government of Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu was invited to the oath taking ceremony of his friend from cricketing days and newly elected prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan. After facing criticism for receiving a hug from General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of the Pakistan Army, Sidhu claimed that Bajwa had assured him of opening the corridor before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.[28][29]

The Government of Pakistan in September 2018, unilaterally decided to open the corridor before the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak for visa-free entry of 5000 Indian Sikhs per day from India to Pakistan.[30][31] The Government of India approved the building and development of Kartarpur corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district to International India–Pakistan border. The long-awaited Kartarpur Corridor is taking shape and has been termed a “Corridor of Peace.[32] The step was welcomed by Sikh community across the world. After the corridor opening was confirmed by Pakistan's information minister Fawad Chaudhry, Navjot Singh Sidhu appreciated the friendly gesture of Imran Khan.[33] Kartarpur Corridor was welcomed by United Nations and United States Department of State.[34][35]

Inauguration
Ahead of Guru Nanak Dev's 550th Prakash Purab celebrations the Kartarpur corridor, connecting Sri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak in India's Punjab with Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur was thrown open on 9 November 2019 (on Fall of the Berlin Wall day[36]) facilitating the first Jatha (batch) of more than 550 pilgrims to travel to the last resting place of Guru Nanak Dev.[37] On Indian side, Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan for respecting sentiments of Indians[38] and flagged off the pilgrimage and handed over the flag of the Jatha to Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh.[39] Under the leadership of Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, the Jatha traveled through the corridor into Pakistan to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.[40] On Pakistan side, Imran Khan received the pilgrims[41] and formally inaugurated the Kartarpur corridor by removing a curtain that was lifted by hot air balloons from huge Kirpan (dagger).[42] Giani Harpreet Singh, speaking at the occasion, thanked both governments for corridor and requested corridor access to Pakistani Sikhs to pay obeisance at Sri Darbar Sahib Dera Baba Nanak on Indian side.[43] Poetry about Guru Nanak, from Muhammad Iqbal's Bang-e-Dara was read by Former PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and also by Pakistani speakers at inauguration

كيتي بيري

كاثرين إليزابيث هيدسون (بالإنجليزية: Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) (مواليد 25 أكتوبر 1984) تعرف باسمها الفني كيتي بيري (بالإنجليزية: Katy Perry) هي مغنية أمريكية وكاتبة أغاني وممثلة نشأت في كاليفورنيا، في بلدة سانتا باربارا، كاليفورنيا، وعاشت في كنف عائلة مسيحية حيث كان والداها قسيسين؛ لذلك كبرت على سماع الأغاني والموسيقى الدينية المسيحية، وفي شبابها وحياتها المهنية أهتمت بالأغاني الإنجيلية. وبعد إمضاءها على إتفاقية الألبوم مع "تسجيلات ريد هيل"، أصدرت أول ألبوم إستديو يحمل اسمها "كاتي هيدسون" في عام 2001. ثم انتقلت فيما بعد إلى مدينة لوس أنجلوس كي تستطيع الغناء خارج الإطار الديني. ووقعت على اتفاقية مع "تسجيلات كابيتول" في أبريل 2007 بعد انتهاء مدة إتفاقياتها مع "تسجيلات كولومبيا" و"مجموعة الجزيرة ديف جام الموسيقية". اشتهرت كيتي في 2008 بفضل أغانيها المنفردة "قبلت فتاة" و"ساخن وبارد" التي أضافتهم لألبومها الثاني "واحد من الصبيان" وهو في نمط موسيقى البوب روك، وتسببت تلك الأغنيتين المنفردتين في إثارة الجدل لاحتوائهم على موضوعات مثيرة للجنس. أما عن الأغاني المنفردة "فتيات كاليفورنيا"، "حلم المراهقة"، "ألعاب نارية"، "إي تي" وأغنية "ليلة الجمعة السابقة" من ألبومها الثالث حلم المراهقة الذي يحتوي على موسيقى الديسكو قد حصلوا على المرتبة الأولى في قائمة بيلبورد هوت 100. وهكذا أصبح هذا الألبوم ثاني ألبوم يحتوى على خمسة أغاني أحتلوا المراتب الأولى في قائمة بيلبورد هوت 100، وأصبح أول ألبوم لإمرأة يحصل على هذا اللقب. وبعد أضافتها الأغنيتين المنفردتين "جزء مني" و"مستيقظ تماما" اللذان أيضا حصلا على المرتبة الأولى أعادت إصدار الألبوم باسم حلم المراهقة : الحلوى الكاملة في مارس 2012. أحتوى ألبوم كيتي الرابع الذي أصدرته في 2013 واسمه منشور على موسيقى البوب والرقص وعلاوة على ذلك فقد حصلت كليبات هذا الألبوم على نسبة مشاهدة تجاوزت المليون في فيفو، ثم ضمت إليه الأغنتين المنفردتين زئير وحصان أسود التي حصلتا على نسبة مشاهدة تخطت المليار، وبذلك أصبحت بيري أول مطربة تحصل على نسبة مشاهدة كهذه لكليباتها وتعاونت في كتابة أغانيها مع العديد من المؤلفين وعلى رأسهم دكتور لوك وماكس مارتن. وتناولت موضوعات معينة مثل: احترام الذات وتطويرها، في بعض أغانيها مثل أغنيتي زئير و"ألعاب نارية". اشتهرت بيري بملابسها الأصلية والمسلية المزينة بالألوان اللامعة التي تحتوي على مواضيع متعلقة بالأطعمة.

حازت بيري العديد من الجوائز حتى اليوم ومن ضمنهم أربع مرات على جائزة موسوعة غينيس للأرقام القياسية. وضمتها مجلة فوربس لقائمة "السيدات اللاتي حصلن على مكانة عالية في الموسيقى" من عام 2011:2015. وباعت 37 مليون ألبوم و138 مليون أغنية منفردة في جميع أنحاء العالم وبالتالي أصبحت إحدى المغنيات اللاتي حصلن على أكثر مبيعات في كل العصور. كما أطلقت بيري العديد من منتجات العطور التي تحمل اسمها كعلامة تجارية مثل عطور "كيلر كوين"، و"ميو!"، و"بو"، وعطر "ماد بوشن". وفي شهر يوليو 2012 أصدرت فيلمها الوثائقي الذي يحمل اسم "كيتي بيري: جزء مني" الذي ركز على جزء من مسيرتها الفنية، وتناول أيضا قصة انفصالها عن زوجها الممثل الإنجليزي راسل براند.
حياتها الشخصية والمهنية
1984-1998:سنواتها الأولى
نشأت كاتي بيري في كاليفورنيا، في بلدة سانتا بربارا، وعاشت في كنف عائلة مسيحية حيث كان والداها قسيسين. أبيها يدعى موريس كيت،ووالدتها ماري كريستين. ففي بداية شبابها عاشت حياة مليئة بالجنان، ثم بعد ذلك اتجهت إلى الإله. فهي لديها أصول من البرتغال،وألمانيا،وأيرلندا وإنجلترا. في الأساس، كاتي من أصل عائلة فنية فخالها المنتج ومخرج الأفلام فرانك بيري. لديها أخ وأخت،فأخيها الصغير يدعى دافيد وهو أيضًا مطرب، وأختها الكبرى تدعى أنجيلا. في السنوات الأولى من حياتها،تحديدًا من عمر ثلاث إلى أحد عشر عامًا،انتقلت من مدينة إلى أخرى بحكم تأسيس والديها الكنائس في أماكن متعددة في الدولة،وأخيرا استقرت في سانتا بربارا.واشتركت في طفولتها ومراحل تعليمها الإبتدائي في العديد من المعسكرات والمدارس الدينية وعلى رأسهم مدرستي باراديس والي المسيحية في الأريزونا و سانتا باربارا في كاليفورنيا. وفي طفولتها وشبابها كانت عائلتها تعيش ضائقة مالية، حتى وصل بهم الأمر لاستخدام برنامج المساعدة للتغذية التكميلية،كما حصلوا على الطعام من بنك الغذاء الهادف لإشباع احتياجات أعضاء جمعية الكنيسة من أطعمه وماشابه ذلك.

وقضت طفولتها مستمعة للأغاني المسيحية،  وتعرف على الموسيقى الشعبية بفضل أسطوانات صديقاتها. ووضحت كاتي أنها لم تكن متدينة بشكل متعصب كعائلتها وقالت أنها دائما تدعو الله لكي تستطيع أن تتحكم في نفسها وأن تظل متواضعة. وبدأت بالغناء متتبعة أختها أنجيلا وتدربت على أسطواناتها.في إحدى المرات التي كانت تغني فيها مع أهلها خطر على بالهم أن تأخذ دروسًا في فن الصوتيات،وبالفعل عندما تمت التاسع من عمرها بدأت في تلقي دروس تدريبة في فن الصوتيات والإلقاء، وقامت بإلقاء الأغاني في الكنيسة من عمر تسع إلى سبعة عشر عامًا. وعندما كانت في التاسعة ألقت أغانيها التي كتبتها بين الناس،وفي يوم ميلادهاالثالث عشر أحضرت لنفسها جيتارًا. وجربت التزحلق على الجليد وركوب الأمواج حتى تصبح بنت كاليفورنيا نموذجية،علاوة على ذلك تعلمت العديد من الرقصات متلقةً دروسًا في فن الرقص. وحينما كانت في مرحلة المراهقة قال عنها دافيد إنها"فتاة مسترجلة تمامًا".

1999-2006:بداية حياتها المهنية
قد اجتازت بيري وهي في عمر الخامسة عشر اختبار تطوير التعليم العام،وتركت المدرسة الثانوية"دوس بوبلوس"؛لكي تبدأ بالإلتحاق في مهنة الموسيقى والغناء.ودرست فترة في الأوبرا الإيطالية في سانتا باربارا.جذبت طريقة بيري في الغناء،انتباه مغني الروك في ناشفيل أمثال ستيف توماس وجنيفار كناب،وذهبت إلى ناشفيل لتحسين مهارتها في الكتابة.

وبدأت بيري بتسجيل الأغاني قبل إصدارها الرسميوكتبت الأغاني وتعلمت العزف على الجيتار. ثم قامت بإصدار ألبومها الأول الذي يحمل اسمها "كاتي هدسون"،بعد توقيعها على إتفاقية مع تسجيلات ريد هيل،في تاريخ 6مارس 2001. وانضمت في العام نفسه إلى جولة تدعى The Strangely Normal Tour للموسيقي "فيل جويل".

2009:2007 شهرتها بألبوم "وان أوف ذا بويز
عقب تخلي شركة كولومبيا للسجلات تعاقدها مع كاتي بيري، قامت مؤسسه الحملات الترويجيه للشركه انجيليكا كوب بياهر بالاستماع إلي جاسون فلوم المسؤل التنفيذي لسجلات فيرجن، واعتقدت شركة تسجيلات كايبتول وفلوم،إمكانية تحويل كاتي بيري إلي نجمة صاعدة متحدين. وقامت بيري في ابريل 2007 بتوقيع عقد مع الشركة.

قدم المنتج والمغني دكتور لوك من قبل الشركة من اجل أن تكون اضافه إلي الأعمال والعروض الموجودة،حيث قام كل من دكتور لوك وكاتي بيري بكتابة "أى كيست آ جيرل"و "هوت أن كولد".

في الألبوم الثاني المسمي وان أوف ذا فويس. وفي نوفمبر لعام 2007، بداء في حملة تهدف إلي تسويق وتقديم كاتي بيري إلي الموسيقي والفن بواسطة إدخالها في كليب "Ur So Gay" .

عقب ذلك في اطار الحملات الترويجية نشر كليب "يور سو جاى"،وفي نفس الوقت قد رافقه ألبوم علي أسطوانة مطولة. وفي ابريل لعام 2008، صرحت كل من مادونا (مغنية) و جون راي مع رايتش في برنامج راديو إذاعي بان أغنيه"يور سو جاي" إحدى الأغاني المفضلة لديهم،

وقد ساعد مدح مادونا للأغنية في اتجاه الأشخاص والبداء في سماعها. أما في عام 2008، كانت كاتي بيري ضيفة في مسلسل "Wildfire" في حلقه تسمي "الحياة قصيرة جدا"، أما بخصوص يونيو فقد مثلت في مسلسل "The Young and the Restless" وقد ظهرت علي غلاف مجلة المسلسل كذلك. وقد نشرت كاتي بيري عام 2008، أول أغنيه منفردة لها مع شركة كابيتول لتسجيلات بعنوان "أى كيست آ جيرل".

وقد حازت الأغنية علي الموقع الأول في بيلبورد هوت 100، وقد استمر ألبوم"وان أوف ذا فويس" في الأسواق العالمية،ل17 يونيو.وقد جمع الكثير من التعليقات والانتقادات.

وقد باعت حوالي 7 مليون نسخة في جميع انحاء العالم، وفي 9 يوليو قدمت أغنيه"هونن أى كولد" كالأغنية الثانية لها في الألبوم، وقد جسدت هذه الاغنية نجاح الالبوم كله ووصلت في المرتبه الثالثه وتربع في بعض البلاد للمرتبة الأولى مثل ألمانيا،النمسا ،هولندا وكندا، وفي عام 2009قد احتلت اغاني لها مثل "Thinking of You" و"Waking Up in Vegas" علي المركز ال30 في هوت بيبلوود 100 ، نشر في 27 يناير لعام 2009 علي موقع اي تونز؛نتيجه لنجاحها المنفرد في نفس الألبوم، الذي سجلته مع وكالة المصفوفة في عام 2004.

بعد إنتهاء كاتي بيري من جولتها لحفلات الروك عام 2008،تم إستضافة كاتي بيري بمهرجان "ام تي في" للجوائز الموسيقية الأوروبية بنوفمبر عام 2008، حيث فازت بجائزة أفضل عمل فني. ولقد بدأت في أول جولة عالمية لها تسمي جولة مرحبا كاتي من شهر يناير إلى شهر نوفمبر عام 2009. في الرابع من أغسطس عام 2009 غنت إفتتاحية الجولة الصيفية لعام 2009 لفرقة no doubt. وفي عام 2009 تم إستضافة كاتي بيري بمهرجان "ام تي في" للجوائز الموسيقية الأوروبية لعام 2009، وبذلك تصبح أول شخص يتم استضافته بحفل لمرتين متتاليتين. في 22 يوليو عام 2009 سجلت كاتي بيري ألبوم مباشر اسمه إم تي في إنبلجد والذي تميز الأداء فيه بوجود خمسة مسارات لفرقة "وان اوف ذا بويز" بالإضافة إلى أغنيتين اضافيتين هما "Brick by Brick" و "Hackensack". وتم الإعلان عنه يوم 17 نوفمبر عام 2009. ولقد ظهرت كاتي بيري أيضا في أغنيتين منفردين خارج الألبوم مع فنانين آخرين ولقد ظهرت في ريمكس مع فرقة كلورادو وكانت أسم الأغنية ستارترك في سبتمبر عام 2009.، وفي يناير عام 2010 قامت بعمل دويتو مع فرقة تيمبالاند بعنوان "إذا تقابلنا مرة أخرى" من ألبومه "الصدمة المرحلة الثانية". ولقد تم تسجيلها في موسوعة غينيس للأرقام القياسية كأفضل فنانة في الولايات المتحدة تسجل أعلى نسبة مبيعات تصل إلى أكثر من 2 مليون نسخة.

ولقد أثارت أغنية "أى كيست آ جيرل"ومن ناحية أخرى تم إتهامها بأستخدام الفضول من أجل الكسب وبيع التسجيلات،وردا على تلك التكهنات تم لاقول بأن والديها يعارضان موسيقاها وحياتها المهنية،وردت كاتي بيري بأنها ليس لديها مشاكل أمام طريق نجاحها. بعد علاقة كاتي بيري ب إم سي كوي التى إنتهت بديسمبر عام 2008، في صيف عام 2009 إلتقت كاتي بيري بزوجها المستقبلي راسل براند أثناء تصويره لفيلم"كيت هيم تو ذا جريك".ومشهدهما حيث كانوا يقبلون بعضهم البعض لم يظهر في الفيلم. ولقد بدأت في مواعدة براند بعد مقابلته مرة أخرى بمهرجان توزيع الجوائز الأوروبي في ديسمبر عام 2009. وتم خطبة الإثنين في 31 ديسمبر عام 2009 بينما كانوا يقضون العطلة في راجستان (الهند).

Katy Perry

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson (born October 25, 1984), known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer, songwriter and television judge. After singing in church during her childhood, she pursued a career in gospel music as a teenager. Perry signed with Red Hill Records and released her debut studio album Katy Hudson under her birth name in 2001, which was commercially unsuccessful. She moved to Los Angeles the following year to venture into secular music after Red Hill ceased operations and she subsequently began working with producers Glen Ballard, Dr. Luke, and Max Martin. After adopting the stage name Katy Perry and being dropped by The Island Def Jam Music Group and Columbia Records, she signed a recording contract with Capitol Records in April 2007.

Perry rose to fame in 2008 with her second album, One of the Boys, a pop rock record containing the singles "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold". The former track also sparked controversy for its themes of lesbianism. Her third album, Teenage Dream (2010), ventured into disco, and was her first record to top the U.S. Billboard 200. It peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 with the singles "California Gurls", "Teenage Dream", "Firework", "E.T.", and "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)", while "The One That Got Away" reached number three on the chart. The album became the first by a female artist to produce five number one songs in the U.S., and the second overall after Michael Jackson's album Bad. In 2012, Perry re-issued the album as Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, which produced the songs "Part of Me" and "Wide Awake". Her next record was Prism (2013), which became her second to top the U.S. charts. It is influenced by pop and dance, and she became the first artist with multiple videos to reach one billion views on Vevo with the videos for its songs "Roar" and "Dark Horse". She followed this with 2017's Witness, which delved into electropop and became her third album to chart at number one in the U.S. "Chained to the Rhythm" was the album's most successful single, breaking Spotify's record at the time for most first-day streams for a song by a female artist.

Perry has received various awards, including four Guinness World Records, five American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and a Juno Award. She has been included in the annual Forbes lists of highest-earning women in music from 2011–2018. Her estimated net worth as of 2016 is $125 million. She is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 18 million albums and 125 million singles globally throughout her career. In film, she released an autobiographical documentary titled Katy Perry: Part of Me in 2012, and voiced Smurfette in the 2011 film The Smurfs and its sequel in 2013. Perry also began serving as a judge on American Idol in 2018.
Life and career
1984–1998: Early life
Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson was born in Santa Barbara, California, to Pentecostal pastors Mary Christine (née Perry) and Maurice Keith Hudson.[1][2] Her parents are born again Christians, each having turned to religion after a "wild youth".[3] Perry has English, German, Irish, and Portuguese ancestry.[4] Through her mother, she is a niece of film director Frank Perry.[5] She has a younger brother named David, who is a singer,[6] and an older sister, Angela.[7] From ages 3 to 11, Perry often moved across the country as her parents set up churches before settling again in Santa Barbara. Growing up, she attended religious schools and camps, including Paradise Valley Christian School in Arizona and Santa Barbara Christian School in California during her elementary years.[2][8] Her family struggled financially,[9] sometimes using food stamps and eating from the food bank intended to feed the congregation at her parents' church.[10]

Growing up, Perry and her siblings were not allowed to eat the cereal Lucky Charms as the word "luck" reminded their mother of Lucifer, and had to call deviled eggs "angeled eggs".[11] Perry primarily listened to gospel music,[12] as secular music was generally discouraged in the family's home. She discovered popular music through CDs she sneaked from her friends.[13] While not strictly identifying as religious, Perry has stated, "I pray all the time – for self-control, for humility."[14] Wanting to be like her sister Angela, Perry began singing by practicing with her sister's cassette tapes. She performed the tracks in front of their parents, who let her take vocal lessons as Angela was at the time. She began training at age 9,[15] and was incorporated into her parents' ministry,[3] singing in church from ages 9 to 17.[16] At 13, Perry was given her first guitar for her birthday,[3][17] and publicly performed songs she wrote.[9] She tried to "be a bit like the typical Californian girl" while growing up, and started rollerskating, skateboarding, and surfing as a teenager. Perry's brother David described her as a tomboy during her adolescence.[18] She took dancing lessons and learned how to swing, Lindy Hop, and jitterbug.[19]

1999–2006: Career beginnings
Perry completed her General Educational Development (GED) requirements at age 15,[20] during her freshman year of high school,[21] and left Dos Pueblos High School to pursue a musical career. She briefly studied Italian opera at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara. Her singing caught the attention of rock artists Steve Thomas and Jennifer Knapp from Nashville, Tennessee, who brought her there to improve her writing skills.[22] In Nashville, she started recording demos and learned how to write songs and play guitar.[12] Perry signed with Red Hill Records and recorded her debut album, a gospel record titled Katy Hudson, which was released on March 6, 2001. She also went on tour that year as part of Phil Joel's Strangely Normal Tour[23][24] and embarked on other performances of her own in the United States.[25] While Katy Hudson received positive reviews from critics, it was commercially unsuccessful and sold an estimated 200 copies before the label ceased operations in December.[26][27] Transitioning from gospel music to secular music, Perry started writing songs with producer Glen Ballard,[28] and moved to Los Angeles at age 17.[29] In 2003, she briefly performed as Katheryn Perry to avoid confusion with actress Kate Hudson. She later adopted the stage name Katy Perry, using her mother's maiden name.[30]

In 2004, Perry signed to Ballard's label, Java, which was then affiliated with The Island Def Jam Music Group. She began work on a solo record, but the record was shelved after Java was dropped.[31] Ballard then introduced Perry to Tim Devine, an A&R executive at Columbia Records, and she was signed as a solo artist. Over the course of the next two years, Perry wrote and recorded material for her Columbia debut, and worked with songwriters including Desmond Child, Greg Wells, Butch Walker, Scott Cutler, Anne Preven, The Matrix, Kara DioGuardi, Max Martin, and Dr. Luke.[32][33] In addition, after Devine suggested that songwriting team The Matrix become a "real group", Perry recorded with them.[34] Perry was dropped from Columbia in 2006 as her record neared completion. After the label dropped her, she worked at an independent A&R company called Taxi Music.[35]

Perry had minor success prior to her breakthrough. One of the songs she had recorded for her album with Ballard, "Simple", was featured on the soundtrack to the 2005 film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.[36] She provided backing vocals on Mick Jagger's song "Old Habits Die Hard",[37] which was included on the soundtrack to the 2004 film Alfie.[38] In September 2004, Blender named Perry "The Next Big Thing".[36] She recorded background vocals on P.O.D.'s single "Goodbye for Now" and was featured at the end of its music video in 2006. That year, Perry also appeared in the music video for "Learn to Fly" by Carbon Leaf, and played the love interest of her then-boyfriend, Gym Class Heroes lead singer Travie McCoy, in the band's music video for "Cupid's Chokehold".[39]

2007–2009: Breakthrough with One of the Boys
After Columbia dropped Perry, Angelica Cob-Baehler, then a publicity executive at the label, brought Perry's demos to Virgin Records chairman Jason Flom. Flom was convinced that she could be a breakthrough star and she was signed to Capitol Records in April 2007. The label arranged for her to work with Dr. Luke in order to add an "undeniable smash" to her existing material.[40][41] Perry and Dr. Luke co-wrote the songs "I Kissed a Girl" and "Hot n Cold" for her second album One of the Boys. A campaign was started with the November 2007 release of the video to "Ur So Gay", a song aimed at introducing her to the music market.[42] A digital EP of the same name was also released that month.[43] Madonna helped publicize the song by praising it on the JohnJay & Rich radio show in April 2008,[44] stating "Ur So Gay" was her "favorite song" at the time.[45] In March 2008, Perry made a cameo appearance as a club singer in the Wildfire episode "Life's Too Short"[46] and appeared as herself during a photo shoot that June on The Young and the Restless for the show's magazine Restless Style
Perry released her first single with Capitol, "I Kissed a Girl", on April 28, 2008,[48] as the lead single from One of the Boys. The first station to pick up the song was WRVW in Nashville, who were inundated with enthusiastic calls the first three days they played it.[49] The track reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.[50] "I Kissed a Girl" created controversy among both religious and LGBT groups. The former criticized its homosexual themes while the latter accused her of using bi-curiosity to sell records. In response to speculation that her parents opposed her music and career, Perry told MTV that they had no problems with her success.[51] One of the Boys, released on June 17, 2008, garnered mixed critical reviews and reached number nine on the US Billboard 200.[52][53] The album went on to sell 7 million copies worldwide.[54] "Hot n Cold" was released the following September[55] and became the album's second successful single, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100[56] while topping charts in Germany,[57] Canada,[58] the Netherlands[59] and Austria.[60] Later singles "Thinking of You" and "Waking Up in Vegas" were released in 2009[61][62] and reached the top 30 of the Hot 100.[56] The Matrix's self-titled debut album, which Perry had recorded with the band in 2004, was released onto iTunes on January 27, 2009, as a result of her solo success.[38][63]

After finishing the 2008 Warped Tour,[64] Perry hosted the 2008 MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2008, where she won the award for Best New Act.[65] At the 2009 Brit Awards, she also won the award for International Female Solo Artist.[66] Perry embarked on her first headlining world tour, the Hello Katy Tour, from January to November 2009 to support One of the Boys.[67] On August 4, 2009, she performed as opening act for one date of No Doubt's Summer Tour 2009.[68] Perry also hosted the 2009 MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2009, becoming the first person to host two consecutive ceremonies of the European awards.[69] On July 22, 2009, Perry recorded a live album titled MTV Unplugged, which featured acoustic performances of five tracks from One of the Boys as well as one new song, "Brick by Brick", and a cover of Fountains of Wayne's "Hackensack".[70] It was released on November 17, 2009.[71] Perry also appeared on two singles with other artists; she was featured on a remix of Colorado-based band 3OH!3's song "Starstrukk" in September 2009,[72] and on a duet with Timbaland entitled "If We Ever Meet Again", from his album Shock Value II, in January 2010.[73][74] The Guinness World Records recognized her in its 2010 edition as the "Best Start on the U.S. Digital Chart by a Female Artist", for digital single sales of over two million copies.[75]

After her relationship with Travis McCoy ended in December 2008,[76] Perry met her future husband Russell Brand in the summer of 2009 while filming a cameo appearance for his film Get Him to the Greek. Her scene, in which the two kiss, does not appear in the film.[77] She began dating Brand after meeting him again that September at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.[78] The couple became engaged on December 31, 2009, while vacationing in Rajasthan, India.[79]

2010–2012: Teenage Dream and marriage
After serving as a guest judge on American Idol,[80] Perry released "California Gurls" featuring Snoop Dogg on May 7, 2010.[81] The song was the lead single from her third studio album, Teenage Dream, and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in June.[82] She also served as a guest judge on British The X Factor later that month[83] before releasing the album's second single, "Teenage Dream", in July.[84] "Teenage Dream" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in September.[85] Released on August 24, 2010,[86] Teenage Dream debuted at number one on the Billboard 200,[87] and received mixed reviews from music critics.[88] It has since sold 6 million copies worldwide.[89] Teenage Dream would go on to win the 2011 Juno Award for International Album of the Year.[90] In October, "Firework" was released as the album's third single.[91] It became the album's third consecutive number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on December 8, 2010.[92]

"E.T." featuring Kanye West was released as the fourth single from Teenage Dream on February 16, 2011.[93] It topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five non-consecutive weeks, making Teenage Dream the ninth album in history to produce four number one singles on the chart.[94] "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" followed as the fifth single in June,[95] and Perry became the first female artist to achieve five number-one Billboard Hot 100 songs from one album when the single topped that chart on August 17, and the second artist after Michael Jackson with his album Bad.[96] For this record, she received an honorary American Music Award in November 2011[97] and a 2013 Guinness World Record.[98] On September 7, she set a new record by becoming the first artist to spend 69 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Hot 100.[99] After "The One That Got Away" was released as the album's sixth single in October, Teenage Dream became the third album to spawn six top-five songs on the Billboard Hot 100 after Rhythm Nation 1814 by Janet Jackson and Faith by George Michael.[100][101] The song peaked at number three in the US[102] and number two in Canada.[58]

On January 5, 2012, Perry was named the sixth best-selling digital artist in the United States, with sales of 37.6 million units according to Nielsen SoundScan.[103] That month, she became the first artist to have four songs sell over 5 million digital units when "E.T." reached that mark along with "Firework", "California Gurls", and "Hot N Cold".[104] On February 13, Capitol released the lead single from Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection, "Part of Me", which debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Perry's seventh single overall to top the chart.[105] Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection was released on March 23.[106] "Wide Awake" was released on May 22 as the re-release's second single,[107] peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100[102] and number one in Canada[58] and New Zealand
Perry embarked on her second tour, the California Dreams Tour, in support of Teenage Dream[67] from February 2011 to January 2012.[109] The tour grossed $59.5 million globally[110] and won her the award for Best Live Act at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards.[111] On September 23, 2011, she performed on the opening day of the 2011 Rock in Rio festival along with Elton John and Rihanna.[112] In September 2010, Perry was scheduled to appear on the 41st-season premiere of Sesame Street. After her scene was uploaded to YouTube, viewers criticized Perry's exposed cleavage. Four days before the scheduled airing, Sesame Workshop announced that the segment would not air on television, but would still be available to watch online.[113] Perry subsequently mocked the controversy on Saturday Night Live, where she was a musical guest and wore an Elmo-themed shirt showing large amounts of cleavage during one skit.[114]

In December 2010, Perry played Moe Szyslak's girlfriend in the live-action segment from a Christmas episode of The Simpsons titled "The Fight Before Christmas".[115][116] In February 2011, she made a guest appearance on the How I Met Your Mother episode "Oh Honey", playing a woman known as Honey.[117] The role won her the People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Guest Star in January 2012.[118] She made her film debut in the 3D family motion picture The Smurfs as Smurfette on July 29, 2011. The film was a financial success worldwide,[119] while critics gave mostly negative reviews.[120] She hosted Saturday Night Live on December 10, 2011, with Robyn as the episode's musical guest. Perry's work on the episode received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised her performance in the episode's digital short featuring her and Andy Samberg.[121] In March 2012, she guest starred as a prison security guard named Rikki on the Raising Hope episode "Single White Female Role Model".[122] On July 5, 2012, Perry's autobiographical documentary Katy Perry: Part of Me was released to theaters through Paramount Pictures.[123][124] The film received positive reviews[125] and grossed $32.7 million worldwide at the box office.[126]

Perry began to venture into business when she endorsed her first fragrance, Purr, in November 2010. Her second fragrance, Meow!, was released in December 2011. Both perfumes were released through Nordstrom department stores.[127][128] Electronic Arts recruited her to promote their new expansion pack for The Sims 3: Showtime,[129] before releasing a separate stuff pack featuring Perry-inspired furniture, outfits, and hairstyles, titled The Sims 3: Katy Perry's Sweet Treats, in June 2012.[130] The following month, she became the spokesperson and ambassador for Popchips and made an investment in the company.[131] Billboard dubbed her as their "Woman of the Year" for 2012.[132]

She married Russell Brand on October 23, 2010, in a traditional Hindu ceremony near the Ranthambhore tiger sanctuary in Rajasthan, India.[133] Brand announced on December 30, 2011, that they were divorcing after 14 months of marriage.[134] Perry later stated that conflicting career schedules and his desire to have children before she was ready led to the end of their marriage[135] and that he never spoke to her again after sending a text message that he was divorcing her,[136] while Brand asserted that he divorced her due to her commercial success and reluctance to engage in activism.[137] She was initially distraught over their divorce, and said that she contemplated suicide.[138][139] After the marriage ended in 2012,[140] Perry began a relationship with singer John Mayer that August.[141]

2013–2015: Prism and Super Bowl XLIX halftime show
In November 2012, Perry began work on her fourth album, Prism.[142][138] She told Billboard, "I know exactly the record I want to make next. I know the artwork, the coloring and the tone" and "I even know what type of tour I'm doing next. I'll be very pleased if the vision I have in my head becomes a reality."[143] After initially telling L'Uomo Vogue in June 2012 that she planned to have "darker elements" in Prism following the end of her marriage, the singer revealed to MTV during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards that she changed the album's direction after periods of self-reflection. Perry commented "I felt very prismatic", which inspired the album's name.[144][145] "Roar" was released as the lead single from Prism on August 10, 2013.[146] It was promoted at the MTV Video Music Awards and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[147][148] "Unconditionally" followed as the second single from Prism on October 16, 2013,[149] and peaked at number 14 in the United States
Prism was released on October 18, 2013, and has sold 4 million copies as of August 2015.[151] It received favorable reviews from critics[142] and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.[152] Four days later, Perry performed the songs from the album at the iHeartRadio Theater in Los Angeles.[153] "Dark Horse" with Juicy J was released as the album's third single in December, and became her ninth U.S. number-one single the following month.[154][155] In 2014, "Birthday" and "This Is How We Do" respectively followed as the album's fourth and fifth singles,[156][157] and reached the top 25 on the Hot 100.[56] Prior to ending her relationship with Mayer in February 2014,[158][159] she recorded and co-wrote a duet with him titled "Who You Love" for his album Paradise Valley. The song was released on August 12, 2013.[160] Perry's third headlining tour, the Prismatic World Tour, began in May 2014[109] and concluded in October 2015.[151] It sold almost 2 million tickets and grossed $204.3 million worldwide[161] and won Perry the award for "Top Package" at the 2014 Billboard Touring Awards.[162] She also performed at the 2015 Rock in Rio festival on September 27, 2015.[163]

On November 23, 2014, the NFL announced that Perry would perform at the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show on February 1, 2015.[164] Lenny Kravitz and Missy Elliott served as special guests for the show.[165] Her performance was critically acclaimed,[166] and the Guinness World Records announced two days after the singer's halftime show that it garnered 118.5 million viewers in the United States, becoming the most watched and highest rated show in Super Bowl history. The viewership was higher than the game itself, which was viewed by an audience of 114.4 million.[167]

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) ranked her fifth on the list of Top Global Recording Artists of 2013.[168] On June 26, 2014, she was declared the Top Certified Digital Artist Ever by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for certified sales of 72 million digital singles in the United States.[169][170] In May 2014, a portrait of Perry by painter Mark Ryden was featured in his exhibition "The Gay 90s", and shown at the Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles. Along with several other artists, she also recorded a cover version of the song "Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)" on a limited-edition concept album titled The Gay Nineties Old Tyme Music: Daisy Bell to accompany the exhibition.[171] That month, a portrait of Perry by artist Will Cotton was included in the United States National Portrait Gallery.[172] On November 23, 2015, Perry starred in H&M's holiday advertising campaign, for which she wrote and recorded a song titled "Every Day Is a Holiday".[173][174]

On June 17, 2014, Perry announced that she had founded her own record label under Capitol Records, titled Metamorphosis Music. Ferras was the first artist to get signed to her label, and Perry served as an executive producer on his self-titled EP. She also recorded a duet with him on the EP, titled "Legends Never Die".[175] The label was later renamed Unsub Records.[176]

Outside of her music career, Perry reprised her role as Smurfette in The Smurfs 2, which was released in theaters on July 31, 2013.[177] Like its predecessor, The Smurfs 2 was a financial success[178] but was panned by critics.[179] In March 2014, she made a guest appearance playing herself in the episode "Blisteritos Presents Dad Academy Graduation Congraduritos Red Carpet Viewing Party" of the Kroll Show.[180] Killer Queen was released as her third fragrance in August 2013 through Coty, Inc.[181] In January 2014, she became a guest curator of Madonna's Art for Freedom initiative.[182] In March 2015, she appeared in Brand: A Second Coming, a documentary following her ex-husband Russell Brand's transition from comedy work to activism,[137] and released a concert film titled Katy Perry: The Prismatic World Tour through Epix, which took place during her tour of the same name.[124] Perry also made a cameo appearance in the music video for Madonna's song "Bitch I'm Madonna" in June 2015.[183] The following month, she released another fragrance with Coty, entitled Mad Potion.[184] In September 2015, she appeared in the documentaries Katy Perry: Making of the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show, which followed Perry's preparation for her Super Bowl performance,[185] and Jeremy Scott: The People's Designer, which followed the life and career of designer Jeremy Scott.[186] Perry released a mobile app titled Katy Perry Pop in December 2015 through Glu Mobile where her character helps players become famous musicians.[187] She described it as "the most fun, colorful world that helps guide your musical dreams".[188]

2016–present: Witness and American Idol
Perry started writing songs for her new album in June 2016,[189] and recorded an anthem for NBC Sports's coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympics titled "Rise", which was released the following month. Perry chose to release it as a standalone track rather than save it for her album "because now more than ever, there is a need for our world to unite". NBC also felt its message spoke "directly to the spirit of the Olympics and its athletes" for its inspirational themes.[190] The song reached number one in Australia[191] and number eleven in the United States

Miranda

Miranda is a British television sitcom written by and starring comedian Miranda Hart. It originally aired on BBC Two from 9 November 2009 and later on BBC One. Developed from Hart's semi-autobiographical BBC Radio 2 comedy Miranda Hart's Joke Shop (2008), the situation comedy revolves around socially inept Miranda, who frequently finds herself in awkward situations. The show features actors Sarah Hadland, Tom Ellis, Patricia Hodge, Sally Phillips, James Holmes and Bo Poraj. It was filmed in front of live audiences at the BBC Television Centre and The London Studios.

Receiving positive reviews from television critics, Miranda won a Royal Television Society award and gained several BAFTA TV Award nominations.[7][8][9] The series has since been regularly repeated on British television and is available in the United States through Hulu
Premise

The episodes revolve around the difficulties Miranda (Miranda Hart) gets herself into. She is 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) tall and, sometimes mistaken for a man, is addressed as 'Sir'. She has never fit in with her old boarding school friends, Tilly (Sally Phillips) and Fanny (Katy Wix), and finds social situations awkward, especially around men. She is a constant disappointment to her mother, Penny (Patricia Hodge), who is desperate for her to get a proper job and a husband. Although Miranda owns and lives above her own joke shop and boutique, she lacks any real capacity for business, so it is managed by her childhood friend Stevie Sutton (Sarah Hadland). The restaurant next door is initially run by Clive Evans (James Holmes), until series three, when the restaurant's chef, Gary Preston (Tom Ellis), purchases it from him. After many failed attempts at dating, Miranda and Gary, a friend from university whom Miranda fancies, decide to be just friends. Nevertheless, when Gary gets a girlfriend called Rose (Naomi Bentley), it prompts Miranda to start a new relationship with Michael Jackford (Bo Poraj), a local reporter whose work soon takes him to Africa. Upon his return he proposes to Miranda, as does Gary when he realises his love for her. Miranda accepts Gary's proposal rather than Michael's and Miranda and Gary get married in the final episode.
Miranda Hart as Miranda – An ungainly, socially awkward, 35-year-old woman who frequently finds herself in awkward and bizarre situations.[11] She is something of a misfit relative to her upper-middle-class, privately educated background, opting to invest an inheritance from her uncle in a joke/gift shop rather than pursuing what her mother perceives as a more "respectable" career, and balking at the supposedly "suitable" men that her mother and friends try to set her up with. Miranda struggles with everyday adult life, often indulging in odd, childlike behaviour (including adding faces and clothes to pieces of fruit and vegetables, dubbing them "Fruit Friends" and "Vegeta-Pals") and getting thrown out of numerous establishments. Although this often irritates her friends and family, they tolerate her because, at heart, she is intelligent and good-natured, despite not always showing it. In the final episode, after she breaks up with Gary, some of her awkward and childish behaviour disappears; this causes considerable concern for her friends and mother, who organise a therapy session. However, she finally accepts that her only serious problem – her lack of confidence – is now gone and although she does not need Gary, she does indeed love him. After an initial panic over an unexpected wedding, she marries Gary at his restaurant.
Tom Ellis as Gary Preston – A handsome, friendly chef; an old university friend of Miranda. Although there has always been an undercurrent of attraction between them, neither has pursued it until he begins working at the restaurant next to Miranda's shop. Despite often being confused by Miranda's behaviour, Gary generally finds her kind, open nature endearing, especially as she is willing to help him out when needed. Gary is more confident and worldly than Miranda, but he shares her insecurity in romantic situations, and occasionally becomes embroiled in odd situations with her — for example, the pretence that they have sons called "Cliff" and "Richard" when challenged by a customer in the shop. He is one of the few people who accepts Miranda as she is. Miranda and Gary date briefly in series two, though this breaks down when it is revealed Gary was married (for a green card) to a waitress that Miranda had befriended at the restaurant. Gary also dates Rose briefly in series three, before breaking up with her due to her being unable to accept Miranda. After becoming engaged, Miranda becomes concerned that he has never said he loves her. When she confronts him, Gary tells Miranda that her distinctive lack of confidence in herself means that they can never truly be together. In the final episode, when Miranda accepts herself, she rushes to what she believes is Gary's wedding, where he is actually best man for his former boss Clive. Gary reveals he has already decided that he loves Miranda and offers to elope; she decides that she does not need to run away and marries Gary at Clive's reception.
Sarah Hadland as Stevie Sutton – Miranda's childhood friend, and the assistant manager of the joke shop (although in reality she does most of the work due to Miranda's lack of business sense). She is generally more level-headed and ambitious than Miranda, but is not averse to becoming involved in her strange behaviour, or indeed indulging in some of her own, including frequently performing Heather Small's "Proud" while holding a cardboard cut-out of the singer whenever she is pleased with herself.[12] Because of this, Miranda and Stevie often get into petty arguments and competitions, such as when a customer leaves his wallet and both Miranda and Stevie attempt to impress him. Miranda frequently mocks Stevie for her small stature, and frequently pushes her over when she irritates Miranda. Despite often claiming to have "the allure" and mocking Miranda's attempts with men, Stevie also shares Miranda's lack of success, sometimes coming across as desperate when she chats someone up. She occasionally uses an unkempt and unpleasant traffic warden (played by Joe Wilkinson) as a date when trying to compete with Miranda. In the final episode, the traffic warden appears again and Stevie kisses him to avoid getting a parking ticket.
Patricia Hodge as Penny – Miranda's middle-class mother, a "lady who lunches", who likes to impress her friends and fellow W.I. members. Her main mission in life is to find Miranda a man and a better job. She despairs at Miranda's decision to run a joke/gift shop, and her tendency to reject suitable (or at least available) men, on numerous occasions trying to set up Miranda with her cousin. Although often embarrassed by her daughter, Penny displays many of Miranda's erratic traits and often teams up with Miranda for their benefit, such as when they are in the psychiatrist's office. Despite being prepared to humiliate Miranda for her own gain (to the point of holding up a placard offering to pay someone to marry Miranda), Penny's actions are borne out of genuine love and concern, and on the rare occasions where Miranda is doing well she shows her love by cheering "Go Miranda". Penny's catchphrase, "Such fun!" is normally used to describe an activity or event where she believes Miranda may find a husband. Another catchphrase of Penny's, especially in the first series, is 'What I call', which she says before numerous everyday things before Miranda points out that that is simply the word for it, and not just what Penny calls it (for example, 'I'm meeting a friend for a spot of, what I call, tea.') Penny tends to ignore Miranda's obvious disinterest or discomfort. In the final episode, Penny turns up at Miranda's flat two days after her break-up with Gary, insensitively suggesting they simply find another groom. Miranda finally loses her temper and tells Penny to get out; this causes Penny to go on a drinking binge at her local tennis club. She soon turns up at Miranda's flat and tearfully confesses that her relationship with Miranda's father has been dead for some time. Thanks to her daughter's new confidence, Penny regains her dignity and joyfully embraces Miranda when she marries Gary several days later.
Sally Phillips as Tilly – An old school friend of Miranda's and the daughter of Penny's never-seen friend Belinda, who fits right in with their private school background, often showing more in common with Penny than Miranda does. Tilly is a socialite and normally quite self-centred, though on occasion, she does come through for her friends and shows that she is kind and generous. She will often address Miranda by her school nickname, "Queen Kong" (due to Miranda's stature and clumsiness), despite Miranda's displeasure, but her criticisms and attempts to help Miranda are generally well intentioned. Tilly's catchphrase is "bear with", usually said as she breaks off conversations to read text messages. While seeming more confident and together than Miranda, she has her own problems romantically, particularly when her fiancé, Rupert (played by Adam James), makes a pass at Miranda behind her back. In the penultimate episode, she becomes engaged to her army doctor boyfriend, "Dreamboat" Charlie (played by Adrian Scarborough). The final episode sees Miranda give Tilly tickets to Wick so she can be free of her mother and elope with Charlie.
James Holmes as Clive Evans (2009–2010, 2015) – The camp, vicious-tongued owner of the restaurant where Gary works. He is usually more of a hindrance than help whenever he attempts to help Miranda and Gary get together, accidentally revealing, for example, that Gary has a secret wife from Hong Kong named Tamara (played by Stacy Liu). Despite his jibes at Miranda, he does show traits of wanting to help her, such as when he pushes her to tell Gary his true feelings. He is absent from the third series having sold the restaurant to Gary off-screen. Clive returns in the final episode and marries the regular customer from previous episodes (played by Dominic Coleman).
Bo Poraj as Michael Jackford (2012–2014) – Miranda's new boyfriend who works as a television reporter and loves Miranda for the real her. Michael made his final appearance in the penultimate episode, when Miranda peacefully turned down his marriage proposal in order to accept Gary's. In the final episode, Penny mentions that the character has flown to Africa, where he had previously returned from on a business venture.
Naomi Bentley as Rose (2013) – Gary's new girlfriend. When Rose can't accept his past affections for Miranda, Gary breaks up with her. She is last seen entering Gary's restaurant for its re-opening, but when Miranda confesses her true feelings for Gary during an argument, Rose immediately walks out.
Katy Wix as Fanny (2009) – Another socialite friend of Miranda's from boarding school. She appears during the first series[13] alongside Tilly, but is not mentioned or seen as of the second series.[13]
John Finnemore and Margaret Cabourn-Smith as Chris and Alison (2009–2010, 2013–2014) – Sort-of friends of Gary and Miranda. As university students, Chris and Alison agreed to marry each other if they were still single at a certain age, but Chris whisked Alison away to Paris and proposed. During the second series, Alison becomes pregnant and they decide that Gary and Miranda should be godparents, but Miranda freaks out when they reveal she will also act as Alison's birthing partner. In the third series, Miranda, Gary and Rose babysit for them. They make their final appearance in the penultimate episode; their once joyous marriage now strained.
Dominic Coleman (2009, 2013, 2015) as 'Customer' – A gay man who comes into the store on three occasions,[14] usually with the intention of buying something for his niece, but is distracted by the probing questions of Stevie and Miranda and gets roped into their antics (For example, suggesting Miranda should lie about being gay and then being roped into attending her coming out party.) He features in the final episode as the partner of Clive,[15] whose wedding Miranda gatecrashes. Although never mentioned on screen, he is referred to on the BBC's website as 'Jim'.
Production
Conception
Abigail Wilson, who worked for comedians Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, suggested Hart pitch a show to the BBC after seeing her perform in 2003.[8] Following a read-through of her script with Saunders and BBC executives,[8] a television pilot, based on her semi-autobiographical writing, was filmed in early 2008,[16] and the series was then developed into a sitcom for radio;[8] Miranda Hart's Joke Shop aired on BBC Radio 2 in August and September 2008.[17] A television series was commissioned in August 2008 and began filming in June 2009.[18][19] Outdoor shots for series one were filmed in Hounslow, West London.[20]

In an interview with the BBC's Writersroom, Hart said of the semi-autobiographical basis for the series:

Well I developed this stand-up persona, and that's where it all started from. I realised I was getting laughs being a version of me, and that's what ended up in the sitcom. You do ultimately start from yourself but I'm pleased to say I did have to exaggerate for comedic effect. It wasn't entirely autobiographical. I'm not quite that mad.[21]

Series 1 (2009)
Each episode begins with a welcome to audience and a 'Previously in my life ...' segment, and Hart says a joke shop is the "right place" as the setting after being asked to consider an office to "normalise" the character.[21] Her love of 1970s comedy programmes, such as Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, is the influence for Miranda. The episodes end with a 'You have been watching ...' credits section where each cast member waves goodbye, as seen concluding Jimmy Perry and David Croft sitcoms such as Dad's Army and Hi-de-Hi!.[22] Quoted in The Times, Hart says "I'm saying this is what I'm doing and I'm not scared to do it. Some of my comedy peers do slightly fear being a mainstream figure, as if it's slightly uncool. Well, I thought I'm going to embrace it."[8] Throughout each episode, Hart breaks the fourth wall and addresses the audience directly, a technique described as a "simple creative decision [that] makes this infectious comedy sing";[23] another critic stated "this is hard to pull off, but it works well".[23]

Series 2 (2010)
Following the conclusion of the first series, the BBC commissioned a second series for BBC Two in 2010.[24] Of this, Hart said "I am not only relieved but totally overwhelmed by the response and thrilled that people have enjoyed the series. I am very grateful for all the support and to the BBC for giving me the chance to do another series next year."[25] Filming started during the first weeks of summer, and the new series began broadcast in November 2010.[24][26][27] The second series comprises six episodes and saw the return of Miranda's mother and friends, Stevie, Gary and Tilly.[28]

For the BBC broadcast, following the end of each episode viewers could press the red button, or go online, to watch Hart interview a guest who had inspired her during the writing of the show.[29] Hart's friend Clare Balding was the first guest and they discussed how Balding influenced the character of Tilly.[30][31] Frank Skinner was interviewed for the second episode.[32] Following the end of episode five, which is a two-hander between Miranda and Penny, the red-button feature saw Hart interview her real-life mother.[33] In late 2010, Hart announced that she would be filming a special edition of Miranda for Comic Relief.[34] The sketch saw Miranda team up with dancers from Pineapple Dance Studios.[35]

Series 3 (2012–2013)
Miranda was recommissioned for a third series by BBC Comedy commissioner Cheryl Taylor in January 2011.[36] Hart revealed that the third series might not be ready until 2012, but she may write a Christmas special.[37] The following month it was announced that the third series of Miranda would be shown on BBC One.[38] In April 2011, Hart announced on The Graham Norton Show that she had set herself to start writing the third series the following month.[39] However, Hart revealed in November she had still not started writing the series.[40] That same month it was announced Hart would not be doing a new Christmas special, though the 2010 Christmas episode would be repeated on BBC One.[41]

On 17 December 2011, Andrew Mickel of Digital Spy reported Hart's involvement with BBC One drama Call the Midwife had delayed the third series of Miranda until Autumn 2012.[42] Filming on the third series ended in early October 2012.[43] A month later, a BBC News reporter revealed that Gary Barlow would appear in an episode of the third series as himself. They stated that he would "get friendly in an unexpected way" with Hart.[44] The third series began broadcasting from 26 December 2012.[45] The outdoor scenes for the second episode of the third series were filmed in Church Street, Kingston upon Thames.[46]

Specials (2014–2015)
Due to the cliffhanger at the end of the third series, it was suspected that Miranda would return for a fourth series. However, in July 2014, Hart announced that there are no plans for a fourth series but 'a couple of specials' would be made.[6] Hart later announced that the two Christmas specials would be the end to the sitcom. Hart said the end was "going to be really emotional", but added that she didn't want her sitcom character "to keep falling over and making a fool of herself".[47]

The first special, titled "I Do, But To Who?" aired on 25 December 2014[48] and the final episode titled "The Final Curtain" aired on 1 January 2015.[49]

Future
At the end of the final episode, Miranda said to the audience/viewers: "I don't know when and if I'll see you again..." In June 2015, Miranda Hart revealed that she hadn't ruled out a possible return for Miranda.[50]

Sarah Hadland has suggested that the sitcom is set to return. Speaking in an interview with The Telegraph, the actress – who plays Miranda's friend Stevie in the show – confirmed that the comedy will be back "in some format". However, she wouldn't be drawn on specifics, just saying: "I can say there will be something".[51]

In late May 2017, Tom Ellis suggested the possibility of future episodes in an interview on BBC Radio 2, saying that "we may be revisiting Miranda in the next couple of years".[52]

The main cast of Miranda (aside from Ellis and Holmes), reunited for the 2017 Royal Variety Performance, for which Hart was the host. They appeared several times throughout the evening in character.

10-year anniversary special
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the series' premiere, BBC One has agreed to record the cast getting together to celebrate and commemorate the series and broadcast the party as a one-hour special later in 2019. Miranda Hart herself announced the special on Twitter while stressing that is not a new episode.[53]

American remake
Main article: Carla (TV series)
In August 2018, it was reported that The Big Bang Theory stars Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik were developing a US remake for Warner Bros. Television, in which Bialik would also star and the series was ordered to Fox on September 19, 2019 and the series title as Carla.[54] Hart would be involved in developing the remake as a producer, but it was not revealed if she would star as well. [55]

Reception
The first series was picked as one of the top 10 forthcoming TV shows for Autumn 2009 by The Sunday Times.[7] Ahead of the first episode airing, Dominic Maxwell in an article for The Times described it as an "old-school" sitcom and said that "It's good fun, if you buy into it. And if you do, it's because of Hart."[8] Also describing it as "old-fashioned", Vicky Frost for The Guardian said of the slapstick physical comedy that "It's not clever – but it is funny. And that, I think is at the heart of Miranda's appeal."[9] Mark Wright for The Stage said that Hodge gives a "brilliant, brilliant performance" and that "what sets Miranda out as something special is Hart herself, and the rest just gels around her."[56] The first series opened with 2.63 million viewers (10% audience share), rising to 3.14 million viewers (12% share) for the fourth episode.[57][58]

The second series opened with 3.19 million viewers, rising to 4.01 million viewers for the third episode.[59][60] Rachel Tarley from the Metro said Miranda is an acquired taste and that an episode can be a mixed bag.[61] However, Tarley enjoyed the festive episode of series 2, saying "Hart got away with a lot of the more irritating qualities of her work, with help from the fantastic Patricia Hodge and Sally Phillips. Tonight was also the first we saw of Miranda's father, played by Tom Conti, who filled most of the episode's falling-over quota, so that Miranda finally remained pretty vertical throughout the episode."[61] She added that Hart is "a great observer of everyday dilemmas" and the best thing of all is she left the door open for a third series.[61] Dominic Cavendish of The Daily Telegraph called Miranda "the sitcom of the year",[62] while Chris Harvey of the same newspaper said "The truth is, pretty much every time Miranda turns and looks at the camera, I burst out laughing. And even when her slapstick is so obvious it wouldn't confuse a small child [..] I still laugh. Even when I'm trying not to. Even when I really, really don't want to."[63] Meanwhile, Catherine Gee said the show was a flop and listed six reasons why, which included unoriginal jokes, Hart's asides to the camera and the show retaining "the worst aspects of the sitcoms of yesteryear."[63]

The opening episode of the third series became one of the most watched shows in the UK over the Christmas period, attracting a total audience of over 11.5 million viewers.[64] For The Telegraph, Michael Deacon compares the programme to a childish Christmas panto, finally adding, "Perhaps I’m just getting old. I’m sure I’d have loved this show when I was six." [65] Keith Watson, writing for Metro, says the series three finale is a "great end to an up-to-scratch season, Miranda never fails to cheer up an evening, reminding many of us that we aren’t alone in the everyday awkward situations that we might find ourselves in – to some extent, anyway."[66]

George Entwistle stated, "Miranda's been a tremendous hit with audiences on BBC Two and I'm very glad she's let us persuade her to move to BBC One, where we believe we can build an even bigger following for her multi-award-winning show. BBC Two has done an exceptional job of supporting and nurturing Miranda over a number of years and I'm certain she'll be equally well looked after at BBC One."[67]

Awards and nominations
In March 2010, Hart won the comedy performance prize at the 2009 Royal Television Society Awards for her role; the series was also nominated for the scripted comedy and comedy writing (for Hart, Cary and Hurst) awards.[68][69] The series also gained two nominations at the 2010 British Academy Television Awards: scripted comedy and female comedy performance for Hart.[70] Both Hart and Hodge received Best Actress nominations at the 2010 Monte Carlo Television Festival.[71] In November 2010, Miranda was nominated for Best Comedy Programme at the Broadcast Awards.[72] In January 2011, the show won Best New British TV Comedy at the British Comedy Awards, while Hart won Best TV Comedy Actress and the People's Choice Award For The King Or Queen Of Comedy 2010.[73] Miranda was also nominated for Best Sitcom.[74]

Hart won Best Comedy Performance and Miranda was named Best Scripted Comedy at the Royal Television Society Awards in March 2011.[75] Miranda earned the award for Best Comedy Show at the 37th Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.[76] Juliet May received a nomination for Best Director at the 2011 British Academy Television Craft Awards.[77] Hart and the show received nominations from the British Academy Television Awards for Female Performance in a Comedy Role and the YouTube Audience Award respectively.[78] In December 2011, Hart won Best TV Comedy Actress at the 22nd British Comedy Awards.[79] She also earned nominations for Best Female TV Comic and the People's Choice Award For The King Or Queen Of Comedy.[79] Miranda was nominated for Best Sitcom.[79] 2013 saw Hart nominated for Best Female Performance in a Comedy Programme at the British Academy Television Awards

Shweta Tiwari

Shweta Tiwari (born 4 October 1980) is an Indian film and television actress.[4] She is known for portraying Prerna Bajaj in Star Plus's Kasautii Zindagii Kay. She is the winner of the 4th season of the reality show Bigg Boss.
Tiwari married actor Raja Chaudhary in 1998. She filed for a divorce in 2007 after nine years of marriage.[5] Tiwari reported she suffered a troubled relationship characterised by Raja's alcoholism and violence. She had complained how he used to beat her up on a daily basis. He used to turn up on the sets of her shows and misbehave with her.[6][7] They have a daughter named Palak.[8]

Tiwari and actor Abhinav Kohli got married on 13 July 2013 after dating for almost three years.[9] On 27 November 2016, Tiwari gave birth to a baby boy.[10][11] Reports of problems in their marriage first emerged in 2017.[12] In August 2019, Tiwari filed a complaint of domestic violence against Kohli alleging harassment by Kohli towards her and her daughter Palak. Kohli was taken into police custody.[13][14] Later on, through an Instagram post, Palak clarified that Kohli had subjected her to verbal but not physical abuse.[15] Tiwari and Kohli separated in 2019.[16]

Career
TV career
Shweta Tiwari first appeared on the television show Kaahin Kissii Roz, after which she played the lead role of Prerna on Kasautii Zindagi Kay which ran between 2001 and 2008.[17]


Shweta Tiwari's Bigg Boss 4 winning moment
In 2010, Tiwari participated in the 4th season of the reality show Bigg Boss. She was declared as the winner of the season on 8 January 2011.[18]

In 2013, she played the role of Sweety Ahluwalia in Parvarrish – Kuchh Khattee Kuchh Meethi.[19] In 2015, she played Bindiya Rani in the &TV show Begusarai

ليلة البدر

ليلة البدر فيلم وثائقي سعودي، يصنف ضمن الأفلام التسجيلية السعودية المتميزة، وتبلغ مدته 30 دقيقة، حيث يوثق الفيلم العادات والتقاليد السعودية بمنطقة الحجاز، ضمن إطار الصورة الواقعية التي تجسد أجواء الفرح، والتي شملت الشعبنة وروحانية رمضان وأجواء العيد ومراسم الزفة الحجازية وتقاليد الاحتفال بالمواليد، وهو من إخراج المخرج ممدوح سالم باعجاجة، ومن إنتاج شركة رواد ميديا للإنتاج والتوزيع الصوتي والمرئي.

المهرجانات
أنتج في يناير 2007، وعرض في عدة دول عبر:

مسابقة أفلام من الإمارات (مارس 2007).
مهرجان الصواري الدولي للأفلام بالبحرين (مايو 2007).
ملتقى الراويات العربيات بتونس (مايو 2007).
الأسبوع الثقافي السعودي بروسيا (يونيو 2007).
مهرجان جده للعروض المرئية (يوليو 2007).
مهرجان الاسماعلية الدولي الحادي عشر للأفلام التسجلية والقصيرة (سبتمبر 2007).
مهرجان المنبر الذهبي للسينما الإسلامية (سبتمبر 2007).

منى ابو سليمان

منى عبد الحميد أبو سليمان (16 مايو 1973)، إعلامية سعودية.  وهي أول مذيعة سعودية تظهر على الفضائيات العربية من خلال شاشة ام بي سي 1 كمقدمة في برنامج كلام نواعم، وإختيرت كسفيرة للنوايا الحسنة للأمم المتحدة في السعودية.

درست وأكملت جميع مواد وامتحانات شهادة الدكتوراة في الأدب الإنجليزي لكن لم تكمل الرسالة بجامعة الملك سعود والأمين العام لمؤسسة الوليد بن طلال الخيرية - سابقاً
مسيرتها
أطلقت مُنى أبو سليمان خلال مسيرتها المهنية الممتدة لما يزيد على ستة عشر (16) عامًا شركات ومؤسسات وأعمال عديدة. وتحظى السيدة منى بشهرة دولية وصفها خبيرةً في مجالات العمل الخيري، والإدارة، والتعليم، والتنمية المستدامة، والاتصالات، وتمكين المرأة.

كما تصدرت مُنى أبو سليمان العديد من المجلات والدوريات التي صنفتها ووضعتها في طليعة أكثر النساء تأثيرًا على الصعيدين العربي والإسلامي لعدة سنوات متتالية من عام 2009 وحتى عام 2015.

ونظرًا لكونها شخصية عامة وإعلامية، فقد تصدت مُنى للعديد من القضايا وتناولت الكثير من الموضوعات ذات الصلة بالمجتمع، وحقوق المرأة، والتنمية، والإعلام، وبناء جسور التفاهم والتواصل بين الشرق والغرب. وفي عام 2004، منح المنتدى الاقتصادي العالمي السيدة مُنى لقب "قائدة شابة". وفي عام 2007، أصبحت مُنى أول امرأة سعودية يتم تعيينها سفيرةً للنوايا الحسنة من قبل برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي. وفي عام 2007، حازت السيدة مُنى على جائزة العلاقات الإقليمية والدولية من معهد جائزة الشرق الأوسط للتميز. وفي عام 2009، تم اختيارها من بين النساء المسلمات الأكثر تأثيرًا في العالم. (مُدرَج قائمة بالجوائز العديدة التي حصلت عليها).

تصدرت العديد من عناوين الأخبار، وشاركت كمتحدثة في منتدى دافوس الاقتصادي العالمي، ومنتدى جدة الاقتصادي، ومجلس القادة المائة للحوار بين الغرب والعالم الاسلامي التابع للمنتدى الاقتصادي العالمي، ومؤتمرات مؤسسة بروكينغز.

وتشغل مُنى أبو سليمان عضوية المجلس الاستشاري لصندوق المرأة المسلمة الذي يهدف إلى تعزيز مكانة النساء المسلمات، ومساعدة الأُسر والمجتمعات. وهي أيضًا عضو في منظمة سوليا التي تركز جهودها لتحسين التواصل بين الشرق والغرب من خلال التعليم الجامعي. كما تشغل مُنى أبو سليمان منصبًا في المجلس الاستشاري ل موقع ميدان، وهو موقع عالمي رائد لخدمات ترجمة المحتوى للغة العربية. كما تعمل مُنى منذ عام 2004 مديرةً متطوعةً في جمعية أصدقاء المملكة العربية السعودية، ولا تزال عضوًا في رابطة الإعلاميين السعوديين. وانضمت مؤخرًا إلى المجلس الاستشاري لكل من "مشروع الأسر المسالمة" و"مؤسسة أنظمة إدارة التعليم العالمية" GEMS Schools.

السنوات الأولى
ولدت مُنى في مدينة فيلادلفيا بولاية بنسلفانيا الأمريكية بتاريخ 16 مايو، 1973، حيث كان يُحَضِر والدها الدكتور عبد الحميد أبو سليمان لنيل شهادة الدكتوراه عن أُطروحة في العلاقات الدولية من جامعة بنسلفانيا. ومنذ سنواتها الأولى في التعليم وصولًا للجامعة والدراسات العليا، تنقلت مُنى أبو سليمان بين المملكة العربية السعودية، وماليزيا، والولايات المتحدة، بناءً على عمل والدها الدكتور عبد الحميد، الذي يُعتبر مفكراً إسلامياً ذائع الصيت في المملكة العربية السعودية والعالم الإسلامي . وفي مقابلةٍ لها مع موقع جريدة عرب نيوز التي تصدر بالإنجليزية قالت مُنى: "من أجمل فترات حياتي، هذان العامان اللذان قضيتهما في كوالالمبور، حيث عايشت الثقافة الثرية وشاهدت عن كثب تعايش الهنود والصينيين والماليزيين في سلام ووفاق. لقد ساعدتني الحياة في الخارج وتعمقي في الثقافات المختلفة على رؤية الأمور من منظور آخر وتكوين آراء ووجهات نظر ترتكز على التجارب والخبرات، ويرجع الفضل في ذلك لعائلتي التي منحتني هذه الفرصة لتكوين شخصيتي".

الخلفية التعليمية
دكتوراه في الأدب الإنجليزي، (فيما عدا الرسالة)، من جامعة الملك سعود، الرياض، المملكة العربية السعودية (2004)
ماجستير في الأدب الإنجليزي، من جامعة جورج ماسون بولاية فيرجينيا، الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية (1996)
بكالوريوس الآداب في الأدب الإنجليزي، من جامعة جورج ماسون بولاية فيرجينيا، الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية (1995)
المسيرة المهنية
شغلت مُنى أبو سليمان العديد من المهام والوظائف طوال مسيرتها المهنية، حيث عملت في مجال الإعلام، والموضة والأزياء، والتعليم، والعلاقات العامة، والتنمية الدولية، وتنمية المجتمع.

مؤسسة الوليد بن طلال 2005-2011
بدأت مُنى العمل في شركة المملكة القابضة المملوكة ل الأمير الوليد بن طلال، حيث شغلت منصب المدير التنفيذي للدراسات الاستراتيجية والمبادرات البحثية. وفي هذا الشأن، تحدثت مُنى باسمة عن تأثير الوليد بن طلال "عندما التحقت بالشركة لأول مرة، طلبت من سموه الحصول على بعض التدريب في المجال التنفيذي حيث لم تكن لدي الخبرة في هذا المجال، لذلك تم إرسالي للحصول على بعض الدورات التدريبية". وتضيف مُنى: "لكنني أدركت لاحقًا أن العمل معه كان التدريب التنفيذي الحقيقي بالنسبة لي".

ساهمت في وضع اللبنات الأولى للمؤسسة حتى أضحت كيانًا كبيرًا وتقلدت منصب السكرتير العام ومنصب المدير التنفيذي. وتنوعت أدوارها في المؤسسة بين إدارة الأنشطة اليومية للأبحاث، وإدارة الموازنة، ووضع أهداف طويلة الأمد للمؤسسة.

وركزت بشكل أساسي على أربعة مجالات؛ تعزيز الحوار بين الشرق والغرب، وتمكين المرأة، وتخفيف حدة الفقر، والتعافي من الكوارث. بحسب مُنى نفسها كان الأمر يتعلق بوجود كثير من الخيارات لقضاء الوقت "الأمر يعود إلى إدارة الوقت، فإذا كان لديكِ وقت محدود وتقومين على رعاية طفلين وتتحملين مسؤولية مسارين مهنيين شاقين، حينها سيكون الاستمرار صعبًا كما هو الحال بالنسبة لي. ومن هذا المنطلق، كان عليّ اتخاذ قرار، هل أكتفي بالحديث عن التغيير أم أقوم بالتغيير."

في عام 2006، أخذت مُنى على عاتقها مهمة بناء مؤسسة الوليد بن طلال، المعروفة سابقًا باسم مؤسسة المملكة. وهذه المؤسسة هي الذراع الخيرية لشركة المملكة القابضة.

الحوار بين الإسلام والغرب
وصفت مُنى عملها في هذا المجال في المؤتمر السنوي لصناع القرار العربي- الأمريكي، حين قالت "نحن نعمل في مجال الحوار بين الإسلام والغرب، الذي يُعد أحد أهم المجالات على الإطلاق. وهناك أربعة أقسام داخل المؤسسة تتعامل مع هذه القضية وقد ساعد ذلك في رأب الفجوة بين الإسلام والغرب وبناء جسور من التفاهم من خلال المؤسسات الأكاديمية. فالأمر كله يتمحور حول تفعيل وتعزيز العمل الأكاديمي الفكري والموضوعي وافساح المجال له لإضفاء الوعي والمنطق على المناقشات الجارية في هذا الإطار، حيث لمسنا غياب ذلك في آخر ثماني سنوات. كما نقوم كذلك بتمويل الكثير من المبادرات مثل هذا المؤتمر، وتنظيم المجلس الوطني للعلاقات العربية الأمريكية، وأيضًا توفير التمويل لمؤتمرات تجمع الحاخامات اليهود والأئمة المسلمين، وبعض المبادرات على مستوى القيادات بين الجانبين الإسلامي والغربي لجلوسهم على طاولة واحدة. وكانت بعض الاجتماعات معلنةً والبعض الآخر غير معلن.

يمثل إلقاء المحاضرات في الجامعات في أمريكا وأوروبا جانبًا هامًا ورئيسيًا من عملها، حيث تحرص مُنى على محو وإزالة سوء الفهم المتبادل بين الغرب والعالم الإسلامي، وألقت محاضرة أمام جامعة ييل، حيث تحدثت عن سوء فهم الغرب للإسلام.

تمكين المرأة
ذكرت مُنى في مقال لها على موقع arabianbusiness.com أن تغيير أوضاع المرأة للأفضل وتمكينها، سيُغير من أوضاع الأسرة بأكملها، وذكرت أيضًا أن أُسرة الأمير الوليد بن طلال تؤمن بأن تشجيع ودعم المرأة وإطلاق المبادرات النسائية يُعد مقياسًا ومعيارًا للتقدم الملموس في أي دولة. ومن هذه الرؤية ينبع دعمها القوي لتمكين المرأة في العالم بصفة عامة، وفي المملكة العربية السعودية على وجه الخصوص. وأشارت مُنى عند حديثها عن الأمومة، إلى أنه يجب على الأمهات الإشارة إلى سنوات رعايتهن لأطفالهن عند التقدم للحصول على وظيفة، وأن تُؤخذ هذه السنوات بعين الاعتبار. وبدلًا من العمل كموظفة مبتدئة أو متدربة، يمكن للمرأة البدء بوظيفة مساعد مدير براتب محدد، وبررت ذلك بقولها أنّ المرأة تكتسب خبرة كبيرة من رعاية الأطفال، وتتزود بمهارات متنوعة مثل الصبر، وإنجاز مهام متعددة في آنٍ واحد، وحُسن الإدارة، وهي أمور لا يجب أن يغفلها أصحاب العمل وأن يقدموا المقابل المادي اللائق بمثل هذه الخبرات.

وفي لقاء لها مع جريدة سعودي جازيت، قالت مُنى "يجب على الفتيات أن يَعِينَ ويتأكدن من أنه ليس هناك سقف لطموحاتهن وقدراتهن، وأنه بإمكانهن العمل بجد من أجل تحقيق الرضا والسعادة وبناء حياة زوجية وإنجاب الأطفال وتنشئتهم.
وتحدثت مؤخرًا أمام مؤتمر "تيد إكس البحر الميت" TEDxDead Sea ، حيث ناقشت نظريتها المتعلقة بسُبل وإمكانية تغيير النُظُم والأساليب غير الملائمة من أجل تمكين المرأة بشكلٍ أفضل، ومساعدتها على العمل وتكوين أسرة وتحقيق الاستقلالية، شريطة ألا يقوم هذا النظام الجديد ببعث واحياء ومحاكاة النماذج الإسلامية التقليدية التي ظلمت وقهرت المرأة وأغفلت فهم طبيعتها، ولا تلك النماذج الغربية التي لم تقدم للمرأة ما كانت تحتاجه، ولكن ينبغي تطوير هذا النظام الجديد ليوفر حياة أفضل للجميع.

كلام نواعم
أسست مُنى أبو سليمان وشاركت كمذيعة في البرنامج الاجتماعي كلام نواعم على تلفزيون إم بي سي MBC، في الفترة من 2002 إلى 2008، ثم حلت محلها هبة جمال مصممة الأزياء السعودية. ثم عادت وإستكملت تقديم البرامج في عام 2012 وحتى الآن ، وتركز جُل اهتمامها على الجوانب الاجتماعية من البرنامج والذي تحاول من خلاله نقل الرسالة إلى المشاهد بأفضل طريقة ممكنة.

كانت مُنى أول امرأة سعودية تظهر على شاشة تلفزيون دولي. وجه ذلك بنقد ورفض لحد أنها تلقت تهديداتٍ بالقتل بعد حلقة قدمتها وانتقدت فيها سلوكيات المسلمين المتشددين.

وفي معُرِضْ وصفها للنجاح الذي حققه البرنامج والتغييرات التي أحدثها في العالم العربي، روت مُنى قصة طفل تعرض للإيذاء الجسدي وكيف أدى تناول هذه المشكلة في البرنامج إلى اتخاذ الإجراءات التشريعية التي تُعَنى وتكفل حماية حقوق الطفل والدفاع عنها.

الحياة الشخصية
تشارك مُنى رعاية طفليها مع زوجها السابق. وفي لقائها مع جريدة سعودي جازيت، ذكرت مُنى أنها تطبق قاعدة "لا للتلفاز" في المنزل طوال أيام الأسبوع.

الجوائز والتقديرات
2004 اختيرت كاحدى القيادات الشابة من قبل المنتدى الاقتصادي العالمي.
• 2005 تم تعيينها بمنصب سفيرة للنوايا الحسنة برنامج الأمم المتحدة الإنمائي في السعودية.
2007 حازت على جائزة السيدة الرائدة وسيدة اعمال الشرق الأوسط من معهد جائزة الشرق الأوسط للتميز.
2009 دخلت قائمة 500 سيدة الأكثر تاثيرا بالعالم الإسلامي.
2009 قائمة 100 سيدة الأكثر تأثيراً في العالم العربي.
2009 الزمالة العالمية من جامعة ييل بالولايات المتحدة.
2010 جائزة كولين مورلي.