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Reality TV star Kim Kardashian enjoyed her trip to Bahrain so much that she hopes to bring her whole celebrity family to the kingdom for a relaxing beach holiday.
Hundreds of fans, some paying hundreds of dinars for the pleasure, flocked to The Walk Bahrain, a new mini-mall in East Riffa, as Kim fever reached boiling point inside and outside the venue.
Ticket holders waited from 6.30pm with entertainment provided by MC’s Ali Dawood and Samar Al Meer, before the American socialite arrived amid tight security at 8.20pm to officially open a Millions of Milkshakes outlet.
A squad of smartly-suited beefy security officers formed a human barrier around the 32-year-old celebrity as she walked down the red carpet with screaming fans pushing through the brittle barricades towards her.
After shaking up her own milkshake concoction at the outlet, she took to the stage at the outdoor mall and greeted her fans with ‘Marhaba Bahrain!’ as security took up positions at all corners of the platform.
Kim said: “I am so excited to be here. It’s my first time to Bahrain and I’ve heard so much about all the hospitality and how warm all the people are. I never thought it would be like this.
“I’ve been on the phone to my family and I told them that they have to come here. It’s so beautiful.
“I didn’t know what to expect. It’s so beautiful here, the people are so amazing… everyone from the US has to come and visit.
“The beaches I saw from my hotel room today were amazing and I visited the desert and saw camels and falcons.
“Everyone is so welcoming and so warm. I really want to come back on vacation. I love how glamorous all the girls are here with their make-up, hair and clothes.”
Presenter Ali Dawood quickly took Kim to her word even making an on-stage deal that if he found her somewhere to stay that she would have to come back. He then asked the audience: “Whose house is open to Kim on her next visit?” which was followed by deafening screams. Kim quickly followed: “Now I have to come back!
“I work hard, that’s what real life is all about. It’s about surrounding yourself with people you really love and following your dreams and making it happen. Follow what you love to do and you can make it happen too,” the model, fashion store co-owner and occasional actress said.
Gold ticket holders, who had splashed out BD500 for a close-up spot near the stage, were given the opportunity to have their photograph taken with the star.
A moment of drama occurred when one thobed fan put his hand in his pocket and Kim’s personal bodyguard instantly grabbed him and snatched what looked like a piece of paper from his fingers in one swift movement.
There was further drama outside when a group of around 50 Islamic protestors gathered close to the mall to criticise the celebrity’s presence in the kingdom. They chanted ‘God is great’ and held banners stating: “This is not in our custom or our tradition to welcome someone who was involved in a promiscuous movie.”
They were perhaps referring to an infamous video of her with a former boyfriend, which became an internet sensation some years ago. Kim’s current fame has been generated by her TV reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians, which focuses on her family.
The protesters outside were apparently dispersed by police using sound grenades and tear gas. Small groups of men, however, remained standing close by a neighbouring mosque in sombre silence with police in attendance.
Most fans who arrived at the event as soon as the gates opened were unaware of the fracas outside and disagreed with the views of the protesters.
Dunya Al Taweel, 18, from Riffa: “I love Kim Kardashian! I am so happy I got to see her today. We got here at 6.30pm to stand right in the front and have been so excited and screaming for her the whole time. She is amazing and a great role model for girls out there.”
Mouza Abuainain, 16, from Riffa said: “After taking a picture with Kim Kardashian I felt like I was going to faint. Happy doesn’t even begin to describe how I am feeling right now. This is an amazing thing for Bahrain and I really hope she does come back.”
Noora Hassan Bahlool, 25, from Adliya, said: “I made a poster of her boyfriend rapper Kanye West for Kim. I hope she saw it and appreciates it. I love Kim and I’m so happy she has come to Bahrain. She’s beautiful!”
Fans travelled from neighbouring countries for the chance to see the celebrity. Chloe Atkinson, 13, from Saudi Arabia, said: “The event was so amazing. I was extremely nervous before I got here because I always see her on TV and I didn’t know what to expect, but she’s amazing. She’s much smaller in person than on TV, but just as beautiful.”
As Kim left the premises her bodyguards had to form a human shield again and push through crowds of photographers and fans, scattering many in their path.
Ali Dawood attempted to calm matters down by offering to pass Kim’s very own milkshake to a fan but grabbing hands put paid to that idea as the fluid flew up in the air as its container was crushed.
Fan Julia Lombardi didn’t mind being covered by the sticky mess. The 14-year-old from Saar, said: “When her milkshake spilled I was so happy because it was made by Kim herself and I got some of it on my hand. But I’m more excited because I touched her shoulder when she was leaving the area. This is such a good day for me. She is my idol. I love her. This is too good to be true.”
She wasn’t the happiest teenager at the event though. Hessa Hamed Al Khalifa was the envy of all her friends earlier that day when she had the opportunity to help pick Kim up from the airport and spend time with her at the Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa, before getting ready for the opening.
Hessa, 16, from Riffa, said: “I was lucky enough to get the diamond pass and greet Kim at the airport. I even went to the hotel to take photos with her. She is an incredible person. She is so nice and thanked me for coming just for her.
“She was really busy so I wish I could have spent a little more time with her but it’s still amazing to see someone I watch every week on TV in the flesh.”
Kim also took to the social networking site Twitter describing Bahrain as the ‘prettiest place on earth!’ adding: “I’m in love with The Kingdom of Bahrain.”
The kingdom awaits the Kardashian sequel.
