Hayfa Wehbi

Haifa Wehbe (Arabic: هيفاء وهبي‎ born March 10 1976[1][2]) 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 (هو الزمن It is Time

Wehbe was born March 10th, 1976 in Mahrouna, a small farming town in Southern Lebanon.[3] She grew up listening to jazz and R&B. She became a model at a young age and won the title of “Miss South Lebanon” at age sixteen.[4] She won an ancillary title at the “Miss Lebanon” competition, which she had to relinquish when it was discovered that she had already been married, disqualifying her.[2] By 1996, she was seen on over 100 magazine covers. In 2006, she was on People Magazine’s 50 most beautiful people list

In 2002, Wehbe released her first album, titled Huwa az-Zaman (هو الزمن It is Time), which was a commercial success, partly because of the release of her first single “Agoul Ahwak” (أقول أهواك I say I love you).

Her second album Baddi ‘Ayš (بدي عيش 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.”[5] Her follow-up single was her biggest hit to date, “Ana Haifa” (أنا هيفاء I am Haifa) which became her novelty song. In 2006 she released a follow up single “Bus al-Wawa” (بوس الواوا Kiss the booboo), from her upcoming album “Baby Haifa”, to be released end of 2008 or early 2009.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.[6]

Wehbe was the first Arab artist appear at the Italian TV channel Rai Uno at Piazza Navona in Rome, performing in the presence of celebrities and fashion designers. Haifa Wehbe has performed with singers outside of the Arab world. 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. On July 4, 2008 Wehbe released her long awaited new album Habibi Ana (حبيبي أنا My love) which contains 15 songs including the single “Mosh Adra Astana”.