Nawal Al Zoughbi: I am not Shakira!

Published October 10th, 2002 - 03:00 GMT

Singer Nawal Al Zoughbi's new 2002 look has been a curse more than a blessing for her. Despite the huge success of her latest music video "Elli Tmaneitoh" (The One I Wished For), Lebanese Zoughbi is trying hard to shake off accusations that she was trying to imitate the Latin-American pop-icon Shakira.

According to the Egyptian daily, Al Tahrir, Zoughbi asked her image consultants to work hard on creating a new look for her. “I’m not the Arab Shakira and would never be. I don’t see that my look in ‘Elli Tmaneitoh’ is like Shakira’s, but I promise that I’d appear in a new and different look in my upcoming music video.”

Last month, the singer was forced to re-edit her latest music video “Elli Tmaneitoh” (The One I Wished For), deleting few scenes in response to accusations saying that they are indecent and seductive in nature. Several Arab Gulf channels refused to show the music video, due to objections filed by censorship parties at Gulf television stations.

The eldest among three brothers and one sister, Zoughbi made her debut in the music world in 1988, with her participation in the TV show, Studio Al Fan. She was awarded the 'Best Singer' award on several occasions throughout her career. - Albawaba.com