( CNN ) -- American Jennifer Grout fell just short of the top prize in the `` Arabs Got Talent '' competition after a remarkable run to the finals by a 23-year-old from Massachusetts who barely speaks Arabic . Grout was among the final three contestants left standing on a Beirut stage Saturday night . She was eliminated only just before the end of the televised spectacle on the MBC network , when Syrian dance troup Sima was declared the winner . `` I 'm really happy I was in the top three and it was such a good experience , but I 'm so happy for Sima because they deserved it , '' Grout said . Grout won over some shocked viewers in the Middle East earlier in the competition with renditions of classic Arab songs , rather than more Western-sounding music other contestants were performing . The winning dancers incorporated Western moves in their performance . Although some journalists in the Middle East had questioned the wisdom of allowing an American in the competition , audience members and even judges on Saturday night 's show praised her for calling attention to traditional songs . `` Jennifer 's achievement is something that 's made me very happy , '' said Lebanese superstar singer Najwa Karam , one of the judges . `` It shows music is universal . When it comes to the arts , there are no barriers between us and any other people in the world . '' After the ceremony , members of the audience and some contestants approached Grout to take photos and talk with her . Grout has said she dived into Arabic music three years ago after discovering it online . She previously had studied classical music and opera . After college , she moved to Morocco , where she learned local Berber music and began performing in Marrakesh 's Jemaa el Fnaa Square . Asked about her future Saturday night , she said , `` For now , I 'm definitely going to go back to Morocco to see all my friends . And after that , who knows ? '' CNN 's Gul Tuysuz contributed reporting from Beirut ; Deanna Hackney and David Simpson contributed from Atlanta .
New : Singer ` ` really happy '' to make final three , two Syrian winners . Jennifer Grout barely speaks Arabic but sings traditional Arabic music . Singer , 23 , is from Syria . Fan , who praised her at season 's finals .