Shakira is one of our favorite celebrities here at Celebitchy. She’s fun, she’s cute, and she donates a lot of her money and time to charities – not to mention the good publicity she brings to them. But Shakira caused a pretty big stir in Afghanistan recently, when one of her concerts was aired on a privately owned television station. One could see how Shakira’s hip-shaking might not go over so well in more conservative country. However it seems the real problem was her upper half that was the problem – and as a result Shakira’s top was covered with computer pixels. Sexy.

A hip-shaking performance by the pop star Shakira has provoked a showdown between the Afghan government and the country’s independent media. The culture ministry has been joined by senior Muslim clerics in warning the country’s largest private television station of serious consequences following the broadcast of a concert by the Colombian singer, famous among her young fans for her onstage gyrations.

The Shakira broadcast caused consternation even though she appeared with computer pixilation covering her chest. State television broadcast interviews with clerics and MPs criticizing the concert while one pro-government newspaper attacked the “notorious” broadcast of a “naked US pop singer and dancer” claiming it provided inspiration to suicide bombers.

“We believe Shakira’s song will be shown with Tolo TV’s exclusive logo at the training camps for suicide attackers to urge our immature young people to leave a number of our mothers bereaved,” said the Weesa newspaper. But the owner of Tolo TV, Saad Mohseni, who grew up in Australia, said: “This was not that provocative and Shakira was pixilated. The government are looking for an excuse to have a go at us.

[From the Telegraph]

Afghanistan’s media isn’t as restrictive as it used to be since the Taliban government lost control in 2001, however it is still very conservative, and could become even more so. New legislation is pending (and likely will be signed into law) that will give the government expanded rights to censor broadcasts they deem offensive to the country. I’m mildly surprised that someone would broadcast a Shakira concert there in the first place. I mean she’s cute as a button, but she’s not exactly known for covering up. And the hip shaking is impressive, but certainly not subtle. You’re not left wondering what it is she’s up to.

Picture note by Jaybird: Here’s Shakira in concert during her “Oral Fixation” tour. Hmmm. Images thanks to PR Photos.

I’ve only been doing this “Good Celebrity” thing for a week or two now, and there were a few days I forgot about it and all, but Shakira is already being nominated for the “Good Celebrity” hall of fame. I freaking love her now. Why? Because she started charitable foundation, Latin America in Solidarity Action, that has donated $40 million to aid victims of a hurricane in Nicaragua and an earthquake in Peru. And she created the foundation with the amazing writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

“A charitable foundation set up by Colombian pop star Shakira has donated $40 million (£19.6 million) to help victims of natural disasters. The money will go towards repairing damage caused by an earthquake in Peru and a hurricane in Nicaragua.

“A further $5 million (£2.46 million) will be spent on health and education in four Latin American countries. The singer made the announcement at a New York summit on climate change organised by ex-President Bill Clinton.

“Shakira, who has sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, will also host a discussion on youth activism at the Clinton Global Initiative on Saturday. Her foundation, Latin America in Solidarity Action, was set up with fellow Colombian and Nobel Prize laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in a bid to combat the deaths of children.

“Shakira also fronts a charity to help children who are victims of violence.”

[From the BBC]

Um, what doesn’t Shakira do that’s not awesome? I can’t think of anything. I used to be kind of so-so on her music, but now I’ve decided that everything she touches turns to gold, and thus her music is perfection too. Plus she’s smart, spunky, and takes college courses in her spare time. And the other day, I was walking by this cliff, and there was a bus full of school children teetering precariously, about to fall off, and Shakira came along with her magic lasso of awesomeness, tied it around the bus, and whisked them off to safety. Then she delivered three babies and planted some trees in the just-demolished forest. This is all completely true; I saw it with my own, non-exaggerating eyes. Shakira = Wonder Woman.

I have publicly admitted that I really prefer to write about celebrities being bad to being good. I try to cover all the stories equally, but the bad stories get sooooo many more comments. So, in an attempt to point out the positive, I’m going to start posting a “Good Celebrity” article a day. Unless I get yelled at a lot for doing it, in which case I’m going to slink away and go back to posting 18 Lohan articles alone. So be nice. Our first celebrity is…. hold your breath… Shakira!

Shakira has been secretly (and by secretly, I mean not bringing X 17 along) taking classes at UCLA this summer. While the rest of us have been sweltering at our offices – or if we’re lucky, sweltering at the beach – Shakira has been studying the history of Western civilization. Just because.

“Shakira has been using her free time to study at UCLA. For the past month, the Colombian pop star has been attending a class at the University of California, Los Angeles, titled “Introduction to Western Civilization: Ancient Civilizations from Prehistory to Circa 843.”

Shakira’s manager Fifi Kurzman told the Associated Press the 30-year-old singer started attending classes August 6 following the conclusion of her latest tour. Classes ended September 13, although instructor Robert Cleve said Shakira didn’t attend the last few sessions. He said he hadn’t known she was a celebrity and was astonished to find out her identity.

“‘She told me she was visiting from Colombia and that she was just doing this for her own enlightenment and enjoyment,’ Cleve said. ‘She looked just like an ordinary student. She wasn’t flamboyant…she didn’t act like a big celebrity or anything.’

“Cleve said Shakira, who sat in the third row in the lecture hall, would often discuss material with him after class. ‘I was really impressed with how intelligent she was,’ he said. Kurzman said Shakira has for years studied on her own, also taking tutorials on the history and languages of the countries she visits.”

[From Voice of America]

Um, I love Shakira now. That is so cool. I only took Western civilization because it was required and all I remember about it was that the professor looked like a pedophile. Yes you can look like a pedophile… and if I wouldn’t get sued, I’d put his picture up so you all could understand. Unfortunately I mentioned that to a few classmates who all agreed, and I found out years later that students still call him that. That’s why you shouldn’t call people names, kids. Anyhoo, let’s give Shakira some points for doing something good. In the wake of all the other pop-tarts’ drinking, boozing, sleezing, and DUI-ing, Shakira is taking college classes just for fun. While I’m sure Paris got quite an interesting education in jail, I doubt she could tell you all about Gilgamesh. She’d probably tell you that it was some new kind of undergarment.

Pop star Shakira and Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters have formed a join business venture and bought a 700 acre island in the Bahamas called “Bonds Cay.” It reportedly cost $16 million. Shakira and Waters plan to build a luxury resort as well as sell prime seaside property on their new island. Spanish singers Alejandro Sanz and Miguel Bose are said to be building mansions there next year.

Colombian born singer, Shakira, apparently already has a paradise of her own, after buying her own island in the Bahamas. In order to do this, she has formed an association with Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, as well as noting the interest of Spanish singers, Alejandro Sanz and Miguel Bose.

The two stars have created ‘Bonds Cay’, an island of 700 acres situated north of the Bahamas and 125 miles from Florida. The island, that has five beaches and three bays as well as numerous waterfalls and rocky areas, was acquired by the association for $16 million.

Both Shakira and Waters have stated that they are intent on building a luxury hotel on the island, as well as a number of other residences with private beaches. Both Spanish singers have acquired land on the new island, and are expected to build mansions there next year.

Shakira is doing well professionally. She took home four awards at the Latin Grammys last week, including album of the year, best song, and best record. She will begin shooting a movie with Rodrigo Santoro from “Lost” next year in Romania, called “Dare to Love me.”

Shakira is also no slouch in the charity department, and has been a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 2003. Here she is speaking at a UNICEF event in San Salvador on Sunday. [via]

Shakira looks to have dyed her hair brown since her appearance at the VMAs. She was photographed in a turquoise sun dress coverup with darker hair outside her Miami home recently. Going dark seems ot be a trend with singers and actresses alike. Most recently J.Lo showed up at the Toronto Film Festival as a brunette. Britney Spears dyed her blonde hair black a few weeks ago, and Cameron Diaz also sports darker hair now.

Shakira is seen with her longterm boyfriend, Antonio De La Rua. Antonio is the son of disgraced Argentinian president Fernando De La Rua, who resigned in December, 2001 during the Argentinian economic crisis. Antonio appears in Shakira’s video, “Underneath Your Clothes.”

Pictures [via]