Shakira has been named the Harvard Foundation’s 2011 Artist of the Year.

The Columbian singer will receive “the Foundation’s most prestigious medal” in recognition of her music and charity work at the annual Cultural Rhythms festival which is held at Sanders Theatre on the grounds of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on February 26.

Acknowledging the world’s most celebrated artists, scientists and leaders for their humanitarian efforts, the initiative is the college’s centre for intercultural arts and sciences.

The foundation’s director S. Allen Counter said Shakira had been chosen to receive the accolade this year because of her musical contributions to culture and her work helping children in impoverished areas such as Haiti.

He said: “The students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation are honoured to present multi-platinum artist Shakira with the 2011 Artist of the Year award. Her contributions to music and distinguished history of creativity have been applauded by people throughout the world, and she is greatly admired worldwide for her humanitarian efforts through her Barefoot Foundation.”

The ‘Hips Don’t Lie‘ hitmaker – who has sold 50 million albums worldwide – started the Barefoot Foundation when she was just 18 and has opened six schools through it.

The charity’s goal is to ensure that every child has the basic right to a quality education.

Shakira has also been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003.

Previous recipients of the Harvard Foundation’s Artist of the Year award include Sharon Stone, Will Smith, Matt Damon and Salma Hayek.

Source: BANG Showbiz

Amy Winehouse has been named the least desirable celebrity wife

The ‘Rehab’ singer – famed for her troubled marriage to drug addict Blake Fielder-Civil, tattoo-covered body and eccentric behaviour – topped a poll by My OK! Wedding magazine, in which readers were asked who would be a terrible spouse.

Joining Amy on the list of bad wives were Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lady Gaga, while Charlie Sheen – who entered rehab last week for drink and drug problems – was named least desirable celebrity husband., closely followed by Mel Gibson and Tom Cruise.

While Amy and Charlie weren’t popular marriage material with readers, Natalie Portman – who is expecting her first child with fiance Benjamin Millepied – was given the title of most desirable celebrity wife, with Britain’s Prince Harry being named as the ultimate husband.

Megan Fox, Katy Perry and Kate Moss all made the top ten for the perfect wife, while Justin Bieber, Robert Pattinson, David Beckham and Harry’s brother Prince William were in the running for ideal husband.

Paul Stacey, a spokesman for My OK! Wedding said: “We were stunned by the results. The least attractive celeb brides and grooms were the party monsters. And I was shocked that Madonna, Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow were in the least desirable top ten.

“And amazingly, now that Harry has cleaned up his act and proven himself to the world with his work in Afghanistan, he has topped the poll beating all the expected candidates like Robert Pattinson and even his brother William.”

My OK! Wedding Poll Results:

Least Desirable Celebrity Husband:

1: Charlie Sheen

2: Mel Gibson

3: Tom Cruise

4: Mickey Rourke

5: Pete Doherty

6: Marilyn Manson

7: David Hasselhoff

8: Ricky Gervais

9: Chris Moyles

10: Wayne Rooney

Least Desirable Celebrity Wife:

1: Amy Winehouse

2: Lindsay Lohan

3: Britney Spears

4: Heather Mills

5: Gwyneth Paltrow

6: Katie Holmes

7: Lady Gaga

8: Madonna

9: Nicole Kidman

10: Sarah Jessica Parker

Most Desirable Celebrity Wife:

1: Natalie Portman

2: Megan Fox

3: Katy Perry

4: Kate Moss

5: Gisele Bundchen

6: Cheryl Cole

7: Christina Hendricks

8: Rihanna

9: Kim Kardashian

10: Kate Middleton

Most Desirable Celebrity Husband:

1: Prince Harry

2: Justin Bieber

3: Robert Pattinson

4: David Beckham

5: Russell Brand

6: Colin Firth

7: Prince William

8: George Clooney

9: Piers Morgan

10: Brad Pitt

Source: BANG Showbiz

Ryan Reynolds has been named the Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine

The ‘Proposal’ actor – who is married to actress Scarlett Johansson, who was named Babe of the Year by GQ magazine this week – was awarded the title by the publication in their annual list and, although he expects to be teased by his family about the accolade, he is hoping to boast about the title to strangers.

He said: “You just have to go with the flow. This gives my family entre into teasing me for the rest of my life.

“Now it’s going to be, ‘Sexiest man, take out the garbage.’ That does sound better. The most difficult part is going to be organically working this title into a conversation with random strangers.”

While Ryan has been named Sexiest Man Alive, he admits he has to work hard to maintain his toned physique.

He joked to People: “My body naturally wants to look like Dick Van Dyke. When I stop training, I turn into a skin-coloured whisper.”

Other stars to feature in the list include ‘Mad Men’ actor John Hamm, ‘Twilight Saga’ hunk Kellan Lutz, actor-turned-rapper Drake and ‘Glee’ star Matthew Morrison, who made up the top five.

Making up the rest of the top 10 were Jon Bon Jovi, ‘True Blood’ star Joe Manganiello, Robert Downey Jr. and ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Jesse Williams.

Meanwhile, the publication also ran a poll on social networking website Facebook, where fans voted Vin Diesel – who placed eleventh in the magazine’s own list – as their Sexiest Man Alive.

The 43-year-old actor took the title over Jersey Shore’s Paul ‘Pauly D’ DelVecchio and Enrique Iglesias, who polled second and third place respectively.

People will publish its full list of the Sexiest Men Alive in their next issue which hits newsstands on Friday (19.11.10).

Source: BANG Showbiz