Based on recent headlines, it appears that love is truly in the air. From Justin and Hailey Bieber’s pregnancy announcement to Egyptian actress Salma Abu Deif getting engaged, it’s clear that romantic celebrations are making waves across the globe. The latest to share a surge of happy news is Aladdin star Menna Massoud, who’s revealed he’s taking his relationship with his better half, Emily Shah, to the next level.
First seen cozying up in 2019, the two lovebirds have been going strong for the last five years and this week, the couple has taken to Instagram to reveal that they are officially engaged. Sharing a carousel of pictures from a romantic getaway in Japan, the pair officially sealed their bond, capturing the moment for the world to share in their joy.
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To mark the happy occasion, we decided to compile all there is to know about the Egyptian-Canadian actor’s new fiancé and soon-to-be-wife. Below, seven facts about Emily Shah.
She’s of Indian and American descent
Shah’s mother is American and her father, according to an interview given to English-language daily newspaper Tribune India, is Gujarati based in Mumbai. She claims that growing up, she got to experience “the best of both cultures.”
She’s trilingual
Shah speaks fluent English, Hindi, and Gujarati— most likely as a result of her diverse background.
She’s the youngest beauty pageant winner in New Jersey
In 2014, Shah made history as the youngest contestant to ever win the Miss New Jersey pageant. She was also the first Indian-American contestant to take part in Miss USA.
She’s worked with some of the cinema industry’s finest
When she was 18, Shah assisted Clint Eastwood on the set of Jersey Boys, a feature that follows the fate of “four talented young men (who) come together to form a rock band called The Four Seasons. Their increasing popularity soon renders them victims of several mafia threats, gambling debts and family disasters.” Speaking on the overall experience, Shah fondly remembers her time spent with the veteran director slash actor, explaining she “learned a lot” and still to this day cherishes the opportunity to have observed his meticulous approach to filmmaking.
She graduated from California State University
Shah completed her bachelor’s degree in Entertainment Media Management during her time at university, graduating in 2018. She also studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute as well as the New York Film Academy.
She’s a proud activist
When she’s not on stage or preparing for her next role, Shah enjoys spending time helping others. In the past couple of years, she’s represented the UN for the World Polio Eradication Initiative in India and was also an Autism Awareness Ambassador for UNICEF.
She’s an entrepreneur
Beyond the silver screen industry, Shah also has a foot in the food and beverages sector as she is the founder of Dharma Gin, “the world’s first Ayurvedic Inspired Distilled Spirit.” Her self-made company has made a name for itself for its use of a wide range of ingredients and flavours sourced from her native India such as black cardamom, green mango peel (amchur), saffron, rose, turmeric, ginger, and curry leaf.
