In online baby shower, Shakira seeks mosquito nets, vaccines for the poor

Colombian pop star and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) ambassador, Shakira, walks with her boyfriend, Barcelona soccer player Gerard Pique, after her joint news conference with Israel's president Shimon Peres (not seen) at the 3rd annual Israeli Presidential Conference in Jerusalem June 21, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Ronen Zvulun

NEW YORK | Wed Jan 16, 2013 2:11pm EST

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Singer Shakira and Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué are asking fans to donate gifts like mosquito nets and vaccines for the world's poorest children in an online baby shower to mark the couple's first child.

The 35-year-old Colombian pop star, who is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and the FC Barcelona center back said on Wednesday they had launched a "virtual living room" for purchase of life-saving items which will be distributed to children and communities in some of the poorest parts of the world.

The singer, who has not announced her due date but has posted recent photographs indicating the baby is likely due later in January.

"To celebrate the arrival of our first child, we hope that, in his name, other less privileged children in the world can have their basic needs covered through gifts and donations," the couple said in an announcing the "Inspired Gifts" program.

Fans and supporters can enter the virtual shower and pay for items ranging from a $5 mosquito net, which protects babies from malaria or $10 for polio vaccines for 17 children, to the top-priced $110-item - therapeutic food, which is a peanut-based paste that can save an acutely malnourished child.

The virtual shower can be accessed at uni.cf/baby.

Shakira has also been working on her eighth studio album and will fill in for Christina Aguilera as one of the regular coaches for the next season of the U.S. singing competition "The Voice."

Shakira first publicly confirmed her relationship with Piqué in March 2011 and revealed in September that they were expecting their first child.

(Reporting by Chris Michaud, editing by Jill Serjeant and Cynthia Osterman)

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Latin Grammys name Shakira person of the year (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Organizers for the Latin Grammys, the top honors for Latin music, on Monday named Colombian superstar Shakira as their person of the year to be feted at the group's annual awards show in November.

Shakira, who was nominated for three Latin Grammys this year including album of the year for her "Sale el Sol," will be given the award not only for her songs and performing but for philanthropic work through her Pies Descalzos Foundation.

"We are honored to pay homage to this dynamic, socially conscious woman whose illustrious career has touched so many people around the world, both musically and personally," Latin Recording Academy president Gabriel Abaroa, Jr. said in a statement.

Shakira, 34, rose to fame as a singer in the early 1990s combining rock, Latin and Mediterranean music with her own original dancing -- a feature of Shakira's that eventually manifested itself in the smash hit single, "Hips Don't Lie."

In 1996, Shakira released "Pies Descalzos" with hit singles "Estoy Aqui" and "Se Quiere...Se Mata." Her first crossover album, Laundry Service, debuted in 2001 and went on to become her most successful album, to date.

Shakira's foundation focuses on helping impoverished children receive an education.

(Reporting and writing by Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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