Who is Shadi Seyedyousef? Meet the special education teacher vying for $1 million on ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’

One could expect a fun-filled episode in Shadi’s presence, for she is also a storyteller, who has her own channel on YouTube.
PUBLISHED JAN 18, 2021
Shadi Seyedyousef (ABC)
Shadi Seyedyousef (ABC)

The ‘Queer Eye’ star Karamo Brown is on the hot seat of Jimmy Kimmel’s ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’, trying to raise funds for the Hollywood Food Coalition.

In the last episode, he powered through the initial questions and won $8,000 before the episode concluded. In tonight's, January 17, episode, a commoner will be gracing the show after Brown for a great cause.

The official synopsis for the latest episode of ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ reads, “Karamo Brown plays for the Hollywood Food Coalition, and Special Education Teacher Shadi Seyedyousef takes her shot at the million-dollar prize.” Here’s everything you need to know about Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’s next guest Shadi Seyedyousef. 

Shadi Seyedyousef (ABC)

Who is Shadi Seyedyousef?

Taking into consideration that the quiz-based show had an interesting line-up of celebrities on its second season, not much is known about the educator, except the fact that she would be using her intellectual acuity to win the ultimate prize. However, Shadi’s official Facebook handle gives away many interesting details about the Special Education Teacher. 

According to her bio on the social networking site, Shadi previously served as a Resource Specialist and is the former Founding Dean at KIPP Compton Community School. Her activities on the platform throw light on her passion for social issues. While Shadi’s profile picture shows that she’s a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, she has also rallied for the representation of Muslim educators. However, it remains to be seen what cause she’s supporting with the game show’s prize money. 

Shadi Seyedyousef and Jimmy Kimmel (ABC)

What to expect? 

One could expect a fun-filled episode in Shadi’s presence, for she is also a storyteller, who has her own channel on YouTube Titled ‘Love and Liberation’. It consists of two videos of Shadi’s readings of Children’s books. 

Most recently, on November 30, 2020, Shadi started a fundraiser on Facebook called Arthritis Foundation’s Jingle Bell Run. She managed to raise over $41,000 in a month, exceeding her initial goal of $36,793. After gathering the donations successfully for the foundation, she revealed in a post her own struggles with Arthritis which forced her to move to the US with her mother.

Shadi Seyedyousef (ABC)

Read Shadi’s full post below:

“I was 3 years old one morning in Iran.  We were staying over at someone's house- an uncle I think from my dad's side.  I remember being high up, like on a bunk bed.  I woke up and my legs hurt so much I started to cry.  I didn't know what was wrong.  My mom carried me down off the bed, but I couldn't walk- it was too painful.  I went to doctors and doctors and more doctors.  Hospitals and hospitals.  They gave me aspirin.  That's it.

She continued, “So my mom decided we need to come to the US.  We packed up our lives and flew to the states by way of Dubai where we stopped to get emergency medical visas.  My little brother was sent back to Iran to stay with my dad because all of this was supposed to be temporary.  But it wasn't temporary, it was life-changing.  My mom gave up EVERYTHING to ensure that I had the care that I needed.  I am forever grateful.  Thanks to the doctors and nurses and all of the wonderful staff at #HarborUCLA and #ChildrensHospitalLA, my life has shifted from surviving to thriving.”

Shadi Seyedyousef (ABC)

“Do I still deal with pain? Of course!  Every day.  But there is so much more that I get to enjoy because of the care I have received and the support system I have been #blessed with.”

“Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to my #JingleBellRun page!  Today is #GivingTuesday and I would love to receive some matched donations from FB!!  Any little bit helps to find new ways to support those living with arthritis.”
 
‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ airs at 8 pm ET on ABC on Sundays.
 

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