Meet the Iranian refugee who had surgery to impersonate Micheal Jackson

An Iranian asylum seeker is now making a new life for himself as an impersonator of the pop legend.

According to Mailonline, Abbas Sharhani left his family behind and fled war-torn Iran by boat when he was just 16 years old. After being released a Darwin detention centre for three months,he straightened his hair and even had plastic surgery on his nose so he could make a living as a Michael Jackson impersonator.

Now the 20-year-old has become a mini celebrity in his own right.Despite the fame, it has not erased the loneliness and isolation of the experience of being a refugee so far from home and family,' he said. 

'However I do find joy in performing for people - everyone loves Michael Jackson. From the bottom of my heart I love the way he dances.'

He has faced criticism from his strict Muslim family for his transformation.

'They were like "why would you change your appearance and change your hair?". They weren't happy, they didn't accept it,' 'It’s difficult being far away, but I just keep doing what I’m doing. Dancing is my passion.

His transformation from refugee to Michael Jackson impersonator is the subject of a documentary, Man in the Mirror, which will debut at the Arab Film Festival Australia.