Hayfa Wehbe

Full Haifa Wehbe Biography  

Haifa Wehbe (Arabic: هيفا وهبي also spelled Haifa Wehbeh, Haifa Wahbi, Hayfa Wehbe, Hayfa Wehbi; born March 10, 1970?), is a Lebanese model, actress, and singer who rose to fame in the Arab world as runner up for 'Miss Lebanon' and later the release of her debut album Huwa az-Zaman (Arabic: هو الزمن It is Time).

Haifa Wehbe was born in a small farming town near Southern Lebanon. She grew up listening to jazz and R&B. She became a model at a very young age and won the title of "Miss South Lebanon" at age sixteen.

Wehbe's next distinction came in 1995 when she was runner up for Miss Lebanon. It was shortly discovered that she was married and had a daughter named Zeinab (Zaza). Her title was thus revoked. By 1996, she had recovered from the scandal and continued to model. She was seen on over 100 magazine covers. In 2006, she was on People Magazine's 50 most beautiful people list.

She released her first album, titled Huwa az-Zaman (Arabic: هو الزمن It is Time) which was a hit thanks to her debut single "Agoul Ahwak" (I say I love you)".

Her second album Baddi 'Ayš (Arabic: بدي عيش I Want to Live) was released in 2005 and lived up to expectations due to the success of its lead single "Hayat Albi." Released after the assassination of Lebanese politician Rafik Hariri, the song of the same name is about "freedom, considered to be among the most basic of human rights."

Her follow-up single was her biggest hit to date, "Ana Haifa" (I am Haifa) which became her novelty song. In 2006 she released a follow up single Bus al-Wawa which so far has sold respectably.

On June 10, 2006 Haifa became the first artist in the Arab world to perform with rapper 50 Cent when she performed as an opening act for his first concert in Lebanon, at BIEL in Beirut.

She remains popular among Lebanon's youth and makes countless television appearances. In July 2005, Wehbe, along with 14 other celebrities from the Arab world, began airing the live pan-Arab reality show series The Valley (Arabic: الوادي Al-Wadi), based on the French reality show La Ferme Célébrités. The show aired for three months. The show featured weekly live performances in which Wehbe played a central role as well as singing songs from her new album.

Her other non-musical successes include a few movie roles and TV hosting. Wehbe has also designed her own range of diamond jewelry. She has also been a spokesperson for Pepsi.

During Wehbe's marriage, she gave birth to a daughter named Zeinab Zaza. Wehbe has not seen her child since the divorce. Her ex-husband has engaged in parental alienation for over 10 years.

In 2005, she announced her engagement to a Saudi businessman Tariq Al-Jaffali. Rumors about the expensive gifts he offered her began to circulate immediately. However, after only a few weeks, she and her fiancé decided to split for personal reasons and family issues.

During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, she left her home, in Verdun, Beirut and moved to Egypt for the duration of the conflict. In a concert in the Lebanese town of Jounieh, Wehbe congratulated Hassan Nasrallah for his stand against Israel during the war.

In an interview shortly after with Reuters, Wehbe stated that Israel attacked Lebanese civilians intentionally while Hezbollah attacked only military targets.

"I believe the whole world knows who started this war and who aggressed on whose land. There isn't a war that starts from nothing and he who begins is the unjust one..."

Wehbe also refused to perform at any concert during the 34 days of the war including fundraisers saying that there were more ways than one to show support for Lebanon.

source: perfectpeople.net