The star we just love to hate

Singer Haifa Wehbe is the stuff jokes are made of. Her endless cosmetic surgeries, her laughter, the scandals ... No one wants to be caught dead with her CD in their cars.

So, why was it that when the singer was involved in an accident it made major news in the Arab world? And why is she a superstar?

Haifa Wehbe survived a major car accident recently. Not a major story, perhaps, even though the other party involved in the accident was a small plane that crashed into Haifa's car while she was shooting one of her video clips.

Millions of people are involved in accidents everyday, so what makes Haifa's accident special?

Perhaps the Lebanese troops which rushed to her rescue when there is an ongoing battle in Lebanon between the army and a terrorist group?

Perhaps it is fact that the news and pictures were splashed all over Arabic websites within hours of the accident, and in
major newspapers the following day? Or the TV station that interviewed her at the hospital the moment she was fit enough to talk?

No one can really tell what is so alluring about Haifa, or how she has become the phenomenon she is.
Beautiful and smart

The lady is beautiful there is no doubt, and obviously very smart. She came very close to the Miss Lebanon title in 1995, being named first runner-up. The title was soon withdrawn when it was discovered that Haifa was married and had a daughter.

This did not stop the ambitious lady from pursuing a modelling career, becoming a super model, and appearing in countless ads and video clips.

However, her ambitions did not end there. When Haifa first announced that she was going to sing, there were mixed reactions, but they were mostly along the lines of: What? Does she think she can sing? Obviously, she did, and along came her first
album, Tigul Ahwak (You say I love you).

Birth of a superstar

The album was an instant success, and the lady turned from supermodel to superstar within weeks.

No one could really tell how that happened. Haifa was not a singer in the real sense of the word. What she did was not
singing, but rather flirting and dancing around and looking stunning, of course.

Journalists trashed her, only to turn around later and start running after her in hopes of catching a statement or a picture.

People also trashed her. They talked about her endless cosmetic surgeries, extremely revealing dresses, obnoxious laugh, and totally seductive moves. No one would admit that they actually liked Haifa Wehbe. No one would be caught dead with her CD in his car, and this is what doesn't make sense.

Conundrum

If everybody hates Haifa, who is it that made her CDs bestsellers? Who are the thousands of people who crowd her concerts? Who made her worth her weight in gold?

If the comments posted on the Arabic websites that published the accident story are anything to go by, hundreds of people not only despise Haifa, but were sorry she didn't die!

And, judging by the history of this controversial woman, they are probably the same people who will be turning up at her next concert.

She's beautiful, glamorous and rich - not only a star, but the object of desire of millions.

It has never been an easy ride for Haifa, with an early divorce, a daughter she can't see, a broken engagement to the man she loves, a sister who has scandalised her, and countless wannabes who want to make it at her expense.

Family

Haifa, reportedly 36, was married and divorced very young. Her only daughter still lives with her father in Africa, and for
some reason he doesn't allow her to see her mother. The singer very famously cried when asked about her daughter during a TV interview on LBC a few years ago.

Then there was her half sister, Rula Yamout, who made headlines when she told a magazine that her sister deserved it, adding that it was not easy to have a living scandal for a sister.

More scandal

There is also her story with singer Rula Saad, who seems to grab every possible chance to talk about Haifa and abuse her. The two are now facing each other in court with defamation charges.

Haifa also accused Rula of trying to steal her man, Saudi businessman Tariq Al Jaffali, to whom Haifa was engaged briefly last year.

Top songs
Tigul Ahwak (You say I love you)
Baddi Eish (I want to live)
Ya Hayat Albi (The life of my heart)
Ana Haifa (I'm Haifa)
Fakirni (You think of me)
Ya Wad Ya Hleiwa (Hey, handsome boy)
Ragab
Bahibak Mout (Dying for you)
Wawa (Pain)
Naughty

Competitors and copy cats

Nancy Ajram and Elissa emerged at the same time as Haifa, but each has a different style. While Elissa is famous for
her warm voice and romantic songs, Nancy became famous for her child-like and innocent image. Her songs are more upbeat and very popular in dancing clubs.

Other singers tried to make the most of Haifa's success by copying her style, to different degrees of success. These include Marwa, May Hariri, Rula Saad, Maria, Huda Haddad and many others.