French Minister goes gaga for Shakira in awards show

AGENCIES

LONDON: Pop singer Shakira is used to being the centre of attention. But it seems that one French politician got rather too hands on with the blonde superstar at an awards ceremony in Cannes, reported the Daily Mail on Monday.

The 34-year-old singer was the recipient of a French knighthood, before going on to collect the NRJ Award Of Honour in Cannes on the weekend.

And an excited Frederic Mitterand, the French Minister of Culture and Communication, was the lucky fellow to pin the honour on the singer.

But after securing the ribbon to her black and white minidress, he seemed to linger over the singer and take more than the necessary time needed to ease it into place.

Shakira took the attention in good humour at the ceremony to pick up the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of the Arts and Letters) for her contribution to music.

The star looked youthful in a pleated skirt, waistcoat and knee-high boots as she accepted the honour in the ceremony which was held at the Majestic Hotel in Cannes.

Watched by her proud parents Nidia and William, Shakira accepted her medal from Mitterrand.

Later she looked a lot more sophisticated in a gold bandeau dress as she graced the red carpet of the NRJ Awards.

Shakira joined Justin Bieber, Seal, LMFAO and Johnny Hallyday at the glitzy award show - the French equivalent of the Grammys or Brits - at the Palais Des Festivals on the French Riviera.

At the awards, she was named the recipient of the NRJ Award of Honour for her successful music career, which has spanned 22 years.

Speaking to the assembled crowd at the ceremony, she said: 'I'm happy. I always felt connected with France. Thanks for all the love you send me.'

Also honoured was French singer/actress Patricia Kaas, who was made an Officier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Officer of the Order of the Arts and Letters).

It was announced earlier this month that Shakira would be given the honour for her contribution to music.

The honour came two months after Shakira released a cover of French song Je l'aime à mourir - after previously singing in her native Spanish and English.

Previous recipients of the Chevalier honour include Kylie Minogue, Tim Burton, Vanessa Paradis, Jude Law and George Clooney.