Mira Singh on her Expo 2020 Dubai fame: 'My life has changed'

The young model was the star of the spectacular opening ceremony on Thursday night

Mira Singh, the young star of the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony who is only 11, says she has been inundated with more offers of work ever since her appearance at the spectacular show on Thursday.

“I am speechless. My life has changed a lot since the opening ceremony,” she tells The National. “I didn’t think it would be so big and the fame would be like ‘wow’.

“I’ve been receiving a lot of offers, projects and commercials. I’ve also got the UAE National Day 50th celebrations so I might be doing that too.”

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Dubai-born Mira Singh played the part of a young girl whose journey creates the Expo story at the heart of the show. All photos: Expo 2020 Dubai

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli with Mira Singh during the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony.

The story of the opening ceremony show was told through the eyes of a young Emirati girl, played by Mira, who represents hope for all people.

Unsure of her path forward, Mira she is presented with an ancient golden ring by a wise elder, played by Emirati actor and playwright Habib Guloom. The ring, based on a 3,000-year-old artefact, is both a symbol of the UAE's past and a future built on connection.

As the young girl makes her journey though our ideal world, representing sustainability, mobility and opportunity, she grows in confidence and is rewarded with the golden seed of humanity.

Mira Singh's part in the opening ceremony was described by its creators as “a young local girl observing the challenges of today and representing hope for the future”.

On stage at Al Wasl Plaza, Mira's role included climbing a ladder during a dazzling sequence that showed the creation of the world.

Born in Dubai to an Indian father and a Belarusian mother, Mira, who has been modelling since she was 6, has also seen her popularity rise on social media. Her Instagram account, which had a little more than 1,000 followers before the Expo ceremony, now boasts more than 10,000.

But Mira says she was “really nervous” before the show began on Thursday.

“There were so many famous and important people and I didn’t want to let anyone down,” she recalls. “But I was also very excited because I really love performing on stage.”

Mira featured throughout the 90-minute show, playing a young girl who is handed a golden ring – the inspiration for the Expo 2020 Dubai logo – and whose journey kick-starts the Expo story. She also danced on stage and guided Grammy-winning Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, who is blind, to the stage for the evening’s final performance.

Mira Singh with Andrea Bocelli on stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

“My favourite part of the show was the moment the garden starts and the ghaf tree grows and the flowers start to bloom,” she says.

Besides Bocelli, Thursday night’s ceremony also featured performances by British pop star Ellie Goulding, American singer Andra Day, Saudi superstar Mohammed Abdu, Emirati sensation Ahlam Alshamsi, Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo and Chinese pianist Lang Lang.

Emirati stars Hussain Al Jassmi and Almas performed the Expo 2020 Dubai theme song This is Our Time, along with Lebanese singer Mayssa Karaa.

Held at the Al Wasl Plaza dome, the centrepiece of the Expo, the ceremony also featured more than 1,000 performers and dancers. Meanwhile, Oscar-winning Indian composer AR Rahman’s all-women ensemble, the Firdaus Orchestra, comprising 50 musicians from across the Arab world, provided much of the evening’s music.

Mira says there were “thousands of girls” at the audition in August, and they were then whittled down to a final three, before she was selected.

Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony star Mira Singh has been modelling since she was 6. Photo: Mira Singh

"At the audition, we had to enact the part where the grandfather gives the girl the golden ring. So I auditioned with another actor and I guess they liked me and chose me,” she says.

A 7th grade pupil at JSS International School in Jumeirah Village Circle, Mira says she’d like to be a full-time actress “and also do modelling and commercials”.

She also loves to sing and dance, is trained in the Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam, and attends ballet and piano lessons weekly.

The younger of two children, Mira says her parents, mom Svetlana and dad Jitendra Pal Singh, are her biggest supporters.

“All my life my parents have [supported me] and encouraged me in everything and it’s been a lot of help from them,” she says.

Singh, a businessman who moved to the UAE in 1995, says he was elated watching his daughter on stage on Thursday night.

“I have not had this kind of reaction ever in our lives and we’re just so proud,” he says.

Scroll through the gallery below for more pictures from the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony:

Spectacular fireworks and entertainment welcome the world to Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday night. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

The opening ceremony under the magnificent Al Wasl dome. Photo: Karim Sahib / AFP

The silver and white ghaf tree forms a centrepiece at the performance centre of Al Wasl Plaza during the opening ceremony. Photo: Ali Haider / EPA

Andrea Bocelli takes the stage at the opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Dancers perform during the opening ceremony. Getty

Ellie Goulding performs at the Expo 2020 opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at the Expo 2020 opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Chinese pianist Lang Lang opens the performance at Al Wasl Plaza for the Middle East's first Expo. Photo: Ali Haider / EPA

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

In the pink with a splash of colour as the event starts with a bang. Photo: Reuters

The impressive opening ceremony for Expo 2020 Dubai, which was streamed live to millions around the world. Photo: Giuseppe Cacace / AFP

All flowered up at the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Reuters

If the opening night is anything to go by, the entire event promises to be quite a spectacle. Reuters

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Kamran Jebreili / AP

Lights, colour and fun are the order of the day. Photo: Reuters

Andra Day takes centre stage. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, declares Expo 2020 Dubai open with a prayer. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

World-renowned Emirati singer Hussain Al Jassmi performs in his country's Expo opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Ahlam AlShamsi performs. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Dimitri Kerkentzes, Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions, the governing body of world's fairs, addresses the audience at the opening ceremony. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Hussain Al Jassmi, Mayssa Karaa and Almas perform during the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai. AFP

Fireworks light up the skies around the Expo site in Dubai. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

A logo of Expo 2020 Dubai is projected during the opening ceremony. AFP

Flag-raising at the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday.

Ahlam AlShamsi performs during the opening ceremony. Photo: Kamran Jebreili / AP

Artists perform during the opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: Reuters

The opening ceremony of Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

The full spectacle that was the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony on Thursday night. Photo: David Jimenez / Expo 2020 Dubai

Dubai opens its Expo 2020 with an extravagant opening ceremony of fireworks, flags and light shows. Photo: AFP

Opening ceremony fireworks. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

A young Emirati performs in the story of the ring that inspired the Expo 2020 Dubai logo. Photo: Christophe Viseux / Expo 2020 Dubai

The world's fair was delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai

Performers line up to welcome visitors to the site of Expo 2020 Dubai. Photo: AFP

Emirati girls welcome guests before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Traditions at play to help kick off the event. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Guests arrive before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

A buzz is spreading around the site before the opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Al Wasl Plaza before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

The national flags of countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai. AFP

Excited spectators arrive. AFP

Members of staff pose for a picture before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

An ideal photo opportunity. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Last-minute preparations, as meticulous as ever, for the big event. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Final preparations are under way in Al Wasl Plaza before the Expo 2020 Dubai opening ceremony on Thursday. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Officials have anticipated and prepared for every eventuality that could crop up during the 182-day world's fair. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National