Rania Zeriri

In 2010 Zeriri started to study at the Enschede Conservatory a branch of ArtEZ. She also works as a reporter with the regional broadcaster TV Enschede FM.

Rania Zeriri gained national recognition as contestant and 'Top 5' finalist in the 2008 German "Idol" version Deutschland sucht den Superstar (DSDS) broadcast by RTL. She finished in fifth place.

After the DSDS show Zeriri performed throughout Germany and performed before the final of the European Football Championship at the fan area at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, in front of several hundred thousand visitors. Zeriris debut solo maxi single Crying Undercover was released on November 14, 2008 by the record label Kontor Records. The title song was written for the singer by Achim Jannsen, a writer who produced several cover-songs for Jan Wayne, together with the musician Claas P. Jambor, a member of the Zeichen der Zeit project. The CD contains also the song Cursed And Blessed written by Zeriri in 2006 and the video of the title song.

Although Rania Zeriri started the last phase of the competition as one of the favourites she received later controversial press coverage, especially from the German newspaper Bild. On April 24, 2008 Bild appeared with an article suggesting that contestants of the show might have used drugs in the dressing room area singling out Zeriri as potential culprit. However, the accusation was never proven and Zeriri made new headlines when she publicly voiced her opinion that a requested drug test should not only include the contestants but also the jury, openly stated her increasing discomfort in participating in the show and directly criticised the juror Dieter Bohlen.

Rania Zeriri (born January 6, 1986 in Enschede, Netherlands) is a Dutch singer.