Mona Abou Hamze
| Mona Abou Hamze | |
|---|---|
| Native name | منى ابوحمزة |
| Occupation | TV Host |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Television | Talk of the Town |
| Website |
www |
Mona Abou Hamze is a well known Lebanese talk show host of Druze origin. Her show, Talk of The Town (Arabic حديث البلد), is one of the most popular in Lebanon and the Middle East. She took on the job in April 2009 and has ever since established her own TV presenting school. The talk show’s guests range from politicians, to singers, actors, athletes and even famous painters and poets. It also sheds the light on humanitarian activities and exposes hot issues, thus the name “Talk of the Town”.
Talk of the Town
Until March 2012, the show had hosted over 1150 celebrity guests from various industries and countries. The show’s new format, launched by Abou Hamze, was so successful that several other similar talk shows emerged in Lebanon and other Arab countries, adopting the same concept.
Awards and Achievements
In 2009, Mona Abou Hamze was awarded a Murex d’Or.[1] She also won the Melody Award for Best Presenter for 3 consecutive years (2009, 2010 and 2011).[2]
In 2011, “Talk of the Town” won a Melody Award for Best Lebanese Show.
Also in 2011, Zahrat Al Khalij magazine chose Mona Abou Hamze as the Best Lebanese Presenter.[3]
Mona Abou Hamze wrote a poetry book entitled “Bila Hakaeb” which she published in 2009. The book gained much acclaim among major newspapers and magazines, such as Al Safir, Annahar, Al Mustakbal and Dubai Al Thakafia.[4]
In 2012, CEO Middle East Journals chose Mona Abou Hamze among the 100 Most Powerful Arab Women, where she was described as “A pop culture superstar, Mona Abou Hamze is known for her intelligence, charming maturity, and elegant beauty. Abou Hamze stars in the MTV hit show Talk of the Town. She recently won the Murex d’Or award for best TV presenter. But Abou Hamze has other strings to her bow other than her looks and her wit. In 2009, she published a volume of poetry entitled Bila Hakaeb."<ref name="Onze Libanaises parmi les "100 femmes arabes les plus influentes" de 2012">Onze Libanaises parmi les "100 femmes arabes les plus influentes" de 2012</ref>
Furthermore, Abou Hamze won the title of Best Presenter which was awarded to her by many websites, radio stations and magazines.
Mona Abou Hamze also graced the cover of countless magazines. Political Lebanese and pan Arab newspapers interviewed her and wrote about her, such as Annahar, Al Safir, Al Siyassa Al Kuweitya, and Al Hayat among others.