Noor Haya: An Afghan Immigrant Story in Canada

Singer | TV Host | Licensed Cosmetologist | Single Mother

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Noor Haya fled war as a child and rebuilt her life in Canada. Her journey is an Afghan immigrant story Canada needs to hear—one of resilience, creativity, and determination. Today, she is an accomplished singer, television host, licensed cosmetologist, entrepreneur, and single mother of four.

Immigration Journey

Afghanistan → Pakistan → Canada

Noor Haya is an Afghan singer, television host, licensed cosmetologist, and entrepreneur whose journey reflects resilience, determination, and the pursuit of new opportunities across continents.
Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Noor Haya grew up as the youngest of twelve siblings in a traditional family. At the age of six, following the loss of her mother and the ongoing war in Afghanistan, her family was forced to leave their homeland and seek refuge in Pakistan. She spent her childhood and teenage years there, where she completed her education, taught English to young students, and dreamed of building a better future.
In 2005, Noor Haya immigrated to Canada with her husband and young son. Like many newcomers, she faced the challenges of adapting to a new country—learning a new system, overcoming language barriers, enduring harsh Canadian winters, and living far from family. Through perseverance, she pursued professional training in cosmetology, completed thousands of apprenticeship hours, earned her hairstyling license, and later became an internationally certified makeup artist.
Her passion for creativity eventually led her into the public spotlight. In 2015, Noor Haya launched her music career after years of vocal training. Her songs quickly gained recognition within the Afghan community, with her hit song "Kambiya" receiving widespread acclaim and being nominated among the year's best Afghan songs. She later had the honor of hosting Afghan Star, one of Afghanistan's most popular television programs, and represented Afghan culture at numerous international festivals and cultural events.
Alongside her music career, Noor Haya became one of the first Afghan women to create beauty and makeup tutorials in the Dari language on YouTube, helping thousands of Afghan women learn professional beauty techniques. Her growing reputation led to an invitation to Afghanistan in 2016, where she managed and later opened her own beauty salon while training young Afghan women in cosmetology and entrepreneurship.
Despite achieving professional success, Noor Haya's journey was not without sacrifice. Pursuing a career in music and media challenged traditional expectations within her family and ultimately contributed to major personal hardships, including divorce. Since 2017, she has been raising her four children as a single mother while continuing to build her career, pursue higher education, and inspire others through her work.
Today, Noor Haya hosts her own television program on Afghan Nobel TV, where she interviews artists, athletes, and public figures from around the world. She continues to balance motherhood, education, media, and music while encouraging newcomers to believe that it is never too late to pursue education or rebuild their lives.
For Noor Haya, Canada has become more than a place of refuge—it is a second home that gave her the opportunity to rediscover herself, develop her talents, and contribute to both the Afghan and Canadian communities. Her story is one of courage, perseverance, and hope, reminding immigrants that while the journey may begin with uncertainty, determination can transform hardship into opportunity.

Documentary Interview

Watch the full interview with Noor Haya about her journey to Canada.

Name:

Country of Origin:

City in Canada:

Year of Arrival:

Profession:

Noor Haya

Afghanistan

Scarborough, ON

2005

Singer | TV Host | Licensed Cosmetologist