Valerie Hamaty
Valerie Hamaty is an Arab-Israeli singer, songwriter and actress. She was born on September 28, 1999, in Jaffa, Tel Aviv, and grew up in an Arab Christian Orthodox family. Her father Tony runs a tapas bar and pizzeria, and her mother Raymond is a tax consultant.
She studied at Collège des Frères de Jaffa and Ironi Dalet High School, where she focused on biology and chemistry. From a young age she played flute and clarinet, joined the Orthodox Christian Scout Orchestra at seven, and later joined the Mayumana dance troupe at ten. She studied at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, where she earned a prize in a competition.
Hamaty gained wide attention after finishing second on HaKokhav HaBa in seasons eight and eleven. After the show, she released her debut single Kakha Levater in October 2021 and performed at Enrico Macias’s concert. In 2022 she performed at the Mount Herzl torch-lighting ceremony and released several singles, including Albi and Ala Bali, the latter reaching number four on the Media Forest chart. She also acted in Habima Theatre in Od Hozer HaNigun and took part in a Dana International tribute TV special.
In 2023 she starred as Manar in Madrasa and as Yasmine Dhaud in Thalatha on Nickelodeon, and released more songs such as Laila, Hayim, Kmo Meshuga (with Osher Biton), and Ma'aruf. In 2024 she appeared on Rokdim Im Kokhavim, released Mishala with Ivri Lider, and Shome’a, and is set to star in the Yes series Tahrir.
In November 2024 she returned to HaKokhav HaBa for its 11th season to try to represent Israel at Eurovision 2025, finishing in second place.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:47 (CET).