Zarinah Hassan, popularly known as Zari Hassan is an Ugandan socialite, singer, businesswoman and entrepreneur. She is a multi-talented figure who is a role model to so many in Uganda.
From her work and relationships to her break ups, Zari’s been a firm tabloid fixture for the past two decades.
She is a well-known media mogul who has managed to keep social media on its toes due to the work she delivers and her lavish lifestyle.
The self-declared 'The Boss Lady', this is Zari’s biography.
Zari Age
Zari was born in Uganda on 23 September 1980. She is 41 years old.
Their relationship ended in 2018, after rumours of infidelity. Diamond even implied Zari was unfaithful and in a relationship with Peter Okoye, a member of Nigeria’s popular singing duo P-Square. Zari and Peter both denied these allegations.
Zari and Diamond have two children – a girl and a boy. Lattifah Dangote, was born on 6th August 2015, and the second born is called Prince Riaz, who was born on 6th December 2016.
In 2018, Zari confirmed on her Instagram page that she found love again, with a mystery man she referred to only as King Bae. She revealed that the relationship had ended too, as she had supposedly seen things in King Bae that she did not want to be a part of.
On 14th February 2012, Zari unveiled a new boyfriend she called Dark Stallion. However, as of July, the two had broken up. In September 2021, Zari declared that she was single and not searching after videos emerged that looked like she was either on a date or getting married. She clarified that the videos were from an upcoming gospel music video, and urged her fans to ignore the rumours.
Zari’s Fashionable Family
From her marriage to Ivan, Zari has three sons.
Her first-born is Pinto just turned 18, and is an avid basketball player.
Pinto wants to be a rapper and is already showing his businessmen acumen with his clothing brand Rich Boys Brand on Instagram. Quincy is her youngest son with her first husband, Ivan, and already he is leaving his mark on Instagram with more than 380 000 followers.
From her relationship with Diamond, Zari has her first daughter, Latifah. Tiffah, as her family calls her, is following in her mom’s fashionable footsteps. She’s already a brand ambassador for a clothing store in Tanzania, called BabyShop that is in Msasani city.
Her younger brother Riaz is also an ambassador for a children’s clothing line. The family calls Riaz Nillan, and both kids have amassed a huge Instagram following.
After her split from Diamond, Zari suggested the R&B crooner doesn’t spend time with his children, while she received a lot of backlash from people on social media platforms to take her youngest children to Tanzania so they could spend time with their father.
Zari often shares moments of her family life on her Instagram page – whether celebrating her children’s achievements or their fashion style and love for labels.
Zari Career
Before her work as a businesswoman, Zari was a household name with her successful music career.
With her hit songs Hotter Than Them, Jukila and Nkaaba, Zari took the East African music industry by storm.
She even won the coveted Channel O Music Video Award in 2008 and made appearances in Diamond's music videos for Iyena and Utanipenda.
In 2019, Zari squashed all rumours of a return to the music industry, insisting it would be easier to become a billionaire through her business ventures than as a singer.
Her music career was the perfect platform and opened many more doors for Zari, including hosting opportunities, being a judge for the Miss Uganda beauty pageant and the opening of her chain of stores when she moved to South Africa.
During her marriage to Ivan, Zari starred in her reality TV show, The Life of Zari The Boss Lady. The show focused on advising women who found themselves in relationships that can’t always be acknowledged publicly. The show was so popular it was renewed for a second season.
Zari is also a brand ambassador for Softcare Diapers and the Bryan White Foundation. Her role with the foundation is a perfect fit with her previous charity work and her involvement with the foundation, whose aim it is to fight poverty among the youth.
She also took over Ivan's businesses in South Africa, where she resides with her five children.
One of these businesses includes Brooklyn schools. As CEO, Zari is very involved in the school’s management.
In 2021, Zari announced that she would be on an upcoming reality show on Netflix.
Zari Luxurious Cars
Not one to shy away from the spotlight, Zari made headlines when her first husband imported an orange Lamborghini into Uganda for her, that became the first one in the East African country. The ride caused such a stir, people traveled for miles to catch a glimpse and get a photo with the fast ride. She became a brand and known for her luxurious lifestyle and driving fancy cars.
Through her success, Zari has rewarded herself with a collection of beautiful cars, including a Mercedes-Benz, Range Rover Sport and Audi Q7 – and that’s just in South Africa where she lives in a sprawling mansion in the affluent Pretoria neighbourhood of Waterkloof which is rated to be one of the most expensive suburbs in the country. When she visits Uganda, she can choose between her Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz and Hummer – all shiny rides.
Always on to the next project, Zari is keeping her fans on their toes with her work, news and shiny lifestyle.
Zari Net Worth
It has been rumoured Zari inherited half of Ivan’s money after his death – an estimated $4.4 million, which puts her net worth in the millions of US dollars.
It seems Zari is doing pretty well in her career and is able to provide for all her children.
