Haifa Wehbe

Origin: Mahrouna, Lebanon Genres: Arabic pop music Occupations: Singer, model, Designer, Actress Years active: 1990s- (model) 2002 — present (Singer) 2007 — present (Actress) Haifa Wehbe was born in Mahrouna, a small Shia farming town in Southern Lebanon. She grew up listening to jazz and R&B. She began to work as a model at a young age and won the title of Miss South Lebanon at the age of sixteen.Wehbe won an ancillary title at the Miss Lebanon competition, which she had to relinquish when it was discovered that she had already been married (at age 18) and had a baby girl called Zeineb, disqualifying her. She also made a name for herself when she starred in a music video clip for the singer George Wassouf. By 1996, she had appeared on over a hundred magazine covers. Wehbe is married to Ahmed Abu Hashima and is currently living in Egypt with him. In 2002, Wehbe released her first album, titled Houwa El-Zaman (It Is Time), which became a commercial success, in part thanks to the popularity of her first single "Agoul Ahwak" (I Say I Love You). Her second album Baddi Eesh (I Want to Live) was released in 2005 and lived up to expectations due to the success of its lead single "Ya Hayat Albi." Released after the assassination of Lebanese politician Rafik Hariri, the title single of the album is about "freedom, considered to be among the most basic of human rights".Her follow-up single became her biggest hit to date, "Ana Haifa" (I Am Haifa), which became her novelty song. In 2006 she released a follow up single "Boos Al-Wawa", from her album Baby Haifa. The song was later used in a Pepsi advertisement. The song was also voted Song of the Year in 2006 by Radio Scope and Sawt Al Musika. Wehbe was the first Arab artist appear on the Italian TV channel Rai Uno at Piazza Navona in Rome, performing in front of celebrities and fashion designers. Haifa Wehbe has also performed with artists from outside the Arab world. On June 10, 2006, Wehbe became the first artist in the Arab world to perform with rapper 50 Cent when she performed the opening act for his first concert in Lebanon, at BIEL in Beirut. On July 4, 2008, Wehbe released the album Habibi Ana (My Love) which contains 15 songs including the single "Mosh Adra Astana". Wehbe is a Muslim, and has three sisters, though Haifa's mother is Egyptian. Wehbe's brother died at the age of 24 during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon.Wehbe's adopted daughter has been living with her father since her parents divorce. In 2008 Wehbe's daughter was married in a private ceremony. As of 2010, Zeinab Zaza and her father are living in Kuwait. In 2005, Wehbe announced her engagement to a Saudi businessman Tariq Al-Jaffali. After only a few weeks, she and her fiancé decided to split for personal reasons and family issues. On June 25, 2007, Wehbe survived an accident while filming a music video for the song "Hasa Ma Bena" in Lebanon. In the video, a single engine airplane was to chase Wehbe as she drove a car. However, the airplane inadvertently hit the car, taking off the front windshield of the convertible she was driving.Despite the severity of the accident, Wehbe suffered only minor cuts and bruises. Wehbe married Egyptian businessman Ahmad Abu Husheima on April 24, 2009 in Beirut.Among the guests at the wedding party were singer Anastacia, Nawal Al Zoughbi, Najwa Karam, Ragheb Alama, Ahlam, and Sherine. Awards: 2002:The "Golden Lion" Award in Egypt. 2004: Best Young Female Arab singer in Egypt. 2005:The Oscar for "ninashnash" for her song Baddi Eesh from her second album. 2005:The "Murex d'Or" award with the title "Best Artist of the Year". 2006:The "Murex d'Or" award with the title "Best Artist of the Year". 2009: The "Murex d'or" award with title "Most Popular Lebanese Singer" Discography: Studio albums: * 2002: Houwa El-Zaman (It is Time) * 2005: Baddi Eesh (I Want To Live) * 2008: Habibi Ana (My Love) * 2010: Baby Haifa [Children's Album] Soundtracks: * 2008: Sea of Stars Singles: * "Agoul ahwak" * "Wa7di" * "Ma Sar" * "Ya 7ayat albi" * "Bedi 3ich" * "Ragab" * "Ana Haifa" * "Leik el wawa" * "Naughty" (radio single only) * "Mosh Adra Astana" * "Ma t2oulch el 7ad" * "Hasa Ma Bena" * "Yaben el Halal" * "Baba Fein/Lama El Shams Trawa7 * "Enta Tany"