Ariana Grande is heading this way to help us celebrate National Day. So we look at her meteoric rise to fame and what she’s doing with it…

She may have that made-for-pop appeal, but 22-year-old American Ariana Grande has proven that she is willing to use her pop pedestal to fight injustice. 

The Grammy Award-nominated singer, usually seen sporting a ponytail and cat ears, shot to fame after her performance as Cat Valentine on the Nickelodeon show Victorious. Storming onto the music scene in 2011, her record-breaking success was labelled “unprecedented” by Billboard magazine.

The new single, ‘Focus’, helped Ariana become the first performer in history to debut in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart with the lead singles from each of her three albums.

She recently used the spotlight for other reasons when, earlier this summer, she put out an essay on female empowerment after growing tired of being referred to as the ex-girlfriend of US Rapper Big Sean.

The essay, posted on her Instagram page, pointed out the double standards in the mass media between female and male performers. In it she said: “I am tired of living in a world where women are mostly referred to as a man’s past, present, or future property/possession. I do not belong to anyone but myself.”

It’s not the only time that Ariana has stood up to sexism in the media after taking offence to a line of questioning from two male DJs during an interview on an American radio station.

When asked about what issues she cared most about, she said: “I think judgement in general. Intolerance, meanness, double standards, misogyny, racism, sexism. That’s what we need to focus on. We’ve got work to do.”

She’s all about standing up to bullies too and lent her star power to the Delete Digital Drama campaign by Seventeen magazine to put a stop to online bullying. Other celebs to back the cause include Divergent star Shailene Woodley and fashion and reality icon Kendall Jenner.

Despite stepping up for good causes, Ariana is fully focused on her musical career and bringing her Honeymoon tour to the Gulf next month – the first time the record-breaker has taken a tour outside the US.

With a four-octave and a semitone soprano vocal range in her arsenal, the pint-sized singer can give even more experienced performers like Mariah Carey a run for their money, so fans of the former Broadway singer will be in for a treat.

The performance will be held as part of extended National Day celebrations.

Ariana Grande performs at du Arena on 3^rd December. From AED 250 for general admission. Visit: ticketmaster.ae

Places that donut disappoint

She’s not all sweetness and light. Ariana was controversially caught on film secretly licking donuts at a store in California earlier this year. After later apologising for her “disgusting” behaviour, the singer’s antics were parodied on Saturday Night Live and even The Muppets.

So, of course, we’ve put together a list of donut shops in the capital for Ariana, should she get peckish.

• Love Doughnuts: The donuts at this independent pastry shop are to die for and are unlike anything else on the market in the city. Shop no 10, Guardian Towers, Muroor. Contact: 02 446 6240, lovedoughnuts.com
• Krispy Kreme: Known stateside and the world over, there’s plenty of branches across the capital. Various locations including Khalidiyah Mall. Contact: 600 525556, krispykrememe.com
• Tim Hortons: Hailing from The Great White North, this coffee shop chain is best known for its donut holes. Various locations including Abu Dhabi Mall. Contact: 052 995 8728, timhortons.com
• Dunkin’ Donuts: A long-established purveyor of sweet treats. You can dunk your donut in various locations around Abu Dhabi including Dalma Mall. Contact: 050 482 4007, dunkindonutsuae.com