Shayan recounts migration journey during GNTM 2026 audition

The seventh season of the fashion reality show GNTM premiered on September 21, 2026, featuring an emotional audition by 23-year-old Shayan. Accompanied by his mother, the contestant shared his personal history of fleeing Iran nine years ago when he was 13 years old. Shayan explained that they left their home country due to his mother's conversion to a new religion, embarking on a perilous journey that involved traveling through Turkey and reaching Greece on foot.

Currently residing in Greece, Shayan balances his career in the restaurant industry with interests in modeling and music. During the audition, his mother noted that they have no contact with his father. Despite the hardships he faced during his youth, the contestant appeared before the judges determined to pursue a professional opportunity in the fashion industry. The program serves as a platform for his ambition, as he continues to balance his various professional pursuits while seeking a breakthrough in the modeling world.