Lebanese celebrated at home and abroad on Thursday, despite their homeland's crises, as they woke up to the news that local female dance troop Mayyas had won the America's Got Talent competition on U.S. television, bagging a $1 million prize.
"We did it! Lebanon, this one's for you," the group posted on Instagram alongside a video of their winning act - an Arabesque performance embellished with feathers and glowing white orbs.
Given Lebanon's situation, the win was "bittersweet," said filmmaker-turned-software engineer Zahi Farah, who moved to Paris from Lebanon earlier this year and had followed the Mayyas's progress through the AGT season.Lebanon's worsening financial crisis and rampant corruption in politics had slashed opportunities for other talented people to exceed in their fields, he said.
Messages of congratulations filled Twitter on Thursday morning as Lebanese learned of the win, which had taken place overnight as they were sleeping.Officials also joined in, with parliament on Thursday breaking into applause in their honour and President Michel Aoun awarding them the Lebanese Gold Medal of Merit.
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