Shakira hosts online baby shower with UNICEF

By Efrosini Costa

While most expectant mothers celebrate their impending arrivals with close family and friends, one international celebrity has chosen to open up her celebration to the world for a good cause.

Latin American singer and mum-to-be Shakira, who has remained candid about her pregnancy with Spanish football star beau Gerard Piqué, took to social media to announce their virtual baby shower.

The expectant parents released their semi-nude, black and white image (full bump in view) – the last pregnancy photo before their baby is born in February – and invited fans along to the big event.

“We’d like to celebrate the imminent birth of our first child with all of you” the couple, who are preparing for the arrival of their son Ulicito, said.

“Thank you for sharing this unforgettable moment with us,” they added.

Hosted by the United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the event will give fans the opportunity to ‘visit’ the couple in their virtual living room where they will learn about issues surrounding child survival.

“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 UNICEF Goodwill ambassador said in a statement.

Close to 20,000 children under five die every day from preventable and curable diseases, according to UNICEF’s figures. While infant-mortality rates have almost halved in the last decade, the organisation says there is still much to be done.

“Every expectant parent around the world shares all the same hopes and dreams for their children that we do. Yet many don’t share the same opportunities. Together we know we can change that,” said the 35-year-old songstress.

Whilst at the shower, virtual ‘attendees’ will be able to purchase UNICEF-inspired gifts from the virtual registry – gifts which will then be distributed to infants in the poorest communities around the world.

The range of gifts includes malaria-fighting mosquito nets, polio vaccines, and other similarly resourceful items, such as baby scales and food products, to help malnourished children.

Those who chose to “attend” the event via their social media sites will be welcomed  by a personal recorded message from the couple. Shakira and Piqué will also be sending personal thank you messages to those who chose to purchase the inspired gifts. Guests can also go into the running to win exclusive prizes, including signed CDs and Barcelona jerseys, for sharing the event with their friends.

As an added bonus they will also be privy to a gallery of never-seen-before images of the couple throughout their pregnancy.

Shakira, who coach announced her pregnancy in September last year, met her Barcleona defender boyfriend while recording her 2010 South African World Cup anthem Waka Waka. Piqué, was playing for the Spanish winning team at the time.

If you would like to ‘attend’ the baby shower, visit http://shakira.socialtoaster.com/

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