By ALESHA CAPONE
WHEN Omar Dean attended school in Caroline Springs, he was bullied for being overweight and his desire to be a singer.
Now he is 19 – and a successful independent pop and R&B artist – Omar can tell other teenagers that being bullied does not stop you from achieving your dreams.
With more than 300,000 views of his YouTube music videos and more than 20,000 social media followers, Omar is a rising star of the Australian music scene.
In May, his debut single ’Runaway Love’ reached number four on the iTunes pop charts of Australian artists and achieved commercial radio airplay.
He also auditioned for The X Factor this year and commercials have already begun airing on Channel 7, showing his musical prowess.
Omar said a trip to the United States in Year 9 helped him to become more confident.
“Believe in yourself, because no matter how many people lack belief in you, you should continue working hard,” he said.
“Believe in yourself and you can achieve your dreams. Anything is possible.”
Omar said the support from his fans has been “overwhelming”.
“I do gigs in Sydney and Melbourne and in the crowds are people aged from 10 to 18, 19,” he said.
“It is amazing when they come up to me and tell me about their experiences.
“I also get in-boxes on Facebook all the time. Girls tell me they have been through this and that, and say ’Your music gets me through’.
“When I was at school, music was pretty much my escape – so if I can do that for someone else, it is great.”
Omar said auditioning for The X Factor felt “nerve-wracking” but the judges were “very kind” to him.
“They said they admire someone like me, who has worked so hard, and said they are sure I will have a big future in the industry,” he said.
See www.officialomardean.com for more information.
