Celebrities turned out for A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF at the United Nations in New York City, yesterday. The stars included Brooke Shields, Cynthia Nixon, Debra Messing, Kimora Lee Simmons, Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Rachel Zoe, Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes, Ali Larter, Drew Barrymore & Justin Long, Molly Sims, Lucy Lui, Chris Ivery & Ellen Pompeo, Rihanna, Demi Moore, Madonna & Lourdes, Jessica & Jerry Seinfeld, and Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony.

Madonna hosted the star-studded fundraiser for Malawi orphans, last night.

The legendary singer, who has a two-year-old adopted son David from the African country, threw the New York bash for her Raising Malawi Foundation, United Nations children’s organization UNICEF and to celebrate the opening of a new Gucci store.

Madonna, who dismissed rumors the event was raising money for Kabbalah, said: “I am grateful that Gucci has underwritten this event, that’s all that matters to me – their generosity. There’s always controversy surrounding anything that involves change.

“I want to put Raising Malawi on the map. I want credibility as a philanthropic organization. I want to inspire people. I don’t want them to just write me a check – I want them to give me a piece of their heart.”

WENN

Salma Hayek has joined John C. Reilly in Universal Pictures’ horror drama Cirque du Freak, which is being directed by Paul Weitz (About a Boy, American Pie). The project is an adaptation of British author Darren Shan’s hair-raising children’s novel, the first of 12 installments, three of which have already been optioned by Universal. The story centers on a vampire (Reilly), a member of a circus who becomes intertwined in the lives of two young boys. Hayek will play the circus’ bearded lady. The role marks her first acting project since coming off of maternity leave. Shooting starts next month.

EW, WENN

Show me more Salma!

And, I’d say she got ‘em!

Salma Hayek has revealed she used to pray to God for bigger boobs when she was a teenager.

The 41-year-old actress describes stopping off at a church with her mum during a road trip.

“When we went inside, I prayed for the miracle I wanted to happen. I put my hands in holy water and said: ‘Please God, give me some breasts’,” said the mother-of-one.

“And he gave them! Within a few months, I developed a growing spurt, as teenagers do, and I was very pleased with the way I grew outwards.”

Welcome to the world, Miss Valentina Paloma Pinault.

Congratulations to Salma Hayek & her fiance, Francois-Henri Pinault on the newest addition to their family!

Actress and producer Salma Hayek, 41, and her fiance, PPR CEO François-Henri Pinault, 45, have welcomed their first child together. The birth of daughter Valentina Paloma was announced this evening by the actress’ rep — however, no details were released except to say,

“Mother and child are doing well.”

Salma was rumored to have checked into Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles early this morning.

The new baby joins François, 9, and Mathilde, 5 1/2, François-Henri’s two children from a previous relationship. The couple announced in March that they were engaged and expecting.

Can you imagine the loot this li’l girl is going to have growing up?  She’s the daughter of a fabulous clothes horse & CEO of luxury goods company PPR SA, which owns high-end labels such as Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga & Puma.

I can’t ever catch a break.

JK

Source

“I’m going to stay (in the U.S.) and run this company. I could just say I will give it all up and be a housewife in Paris. But I said, ‘No.’ I was so lucky because I found myself a man who is a great businessman. And he loves it that I work this hard. He has a lot of respect for what I do.”

I am sure that she will be a wonderful mother, but it’s great that she’s also very business minded and wants to keeping on running her company. I have always wondered about the mysterious relationship between her and Francois-Henri Pinault. I think that they lead very different lives, and I don’t think he is planning on moving to the U.S. anytime soon, despite the fact that Salma is having his child. We shall see! 

A very preggers Salma Hayek was seen leaving Fred Segal Cafe this week.

I think she’s actually looking MUCH better than she was a few months ago when she nearly had an afro and she was gaining weight too rapidly. This maternity dress is cute, but I don’t know if I’d wear platform sandals like that if I were almost 9 months pregnant!