DATE WITH KIM

TV celebrity and shrewd business babe Kim Kardashian will be shaking up Bahrain with a glitzy guest appearance for a product launch in Riffa.

Last weekend her arrival in London caused a storm when a shopping mall was overrun with crazed fans eager to meet and greet their idol and her sisters.

Preparations are already taking place in Bahrain to welcome the 32-year-old American socialite, reality television star, model and occasional actress who has made millions of dollars endorsing and promoting products.

She tweeted fans: “Get ready Bahrain …” as she unveiled plans to fly in on a trip to the region to open up milkshake bars in the kingdom and neighbouring Kuwait.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star is set to host the grand opening of Millions of Milkshakes on December 1 at The Walk, the newly-opened trendy commercial development located in East Riffa, described as the first shaded open air mall of its kind in the kingdom, concluding a three-day whistle-stop tour of the Middle East.

On Monday the mall, a short drive from a picturesque fort, was deserted with only two outlets currently open, Galleria, a coffee shop and art gallery, and The Tea Room diner. Other shops will open shortly and Waitrose will follow in March.

Posters cover the glass exterior of Millions of Milkshakes and it is impossible to see inside. The Walk is patrolled by security staff, no doubt to be joined by an army of recruits on the big day as Kim’s milkshake brings all the boys to the yard.

The first international Millions of Milkshakes outlet opened in the UAE at Dubai Mall last October and its founder Sheeraz Hasan, the man responsible for bringing Kim to Bahrain, has teamed up with Seven Holding SPC’s Hospitality Division to set up the latest opening events.

Since launching the milkshake bar in 2008 in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, it has become one of the most publicised US food and beverage brands in the world.

The simple concept allows customers to design their own milkshake with a variety of toppings to choose from. It can then be blended with a choice of ice cream, non-fat yoghurt or non-dairy ice cream to make a custom shake or sundae.

Sheeraz is also the CEO of Hollywood.TV and Sheeraz Inc and he landed in Bahrain on Monday to help handle the frenzy of interest in the star’s appearance.

He will have to take into account what happened at the Westfield London Shopping Centre last Saturday morning. Police and security guards struggled to control crowds of teenagers surging through the gates to see Kim and her sisters launch their Kardashian Kollection in collaboration with UK fashion retailer, Dorothy Perkins.

Kim became an unexpected star after the first airing of her family’s hit E! Entertainment reality series in 2007 and since then rose to the level of an icon amongst younger girls with almost 17 million Twitter followers - only five places behind US President Obama.

The show follows the exploits of the Kardashian/Jenner family, which includes father Bruce Jenner, mum Kris Jenner, Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and Rob Kardashian and Kendall and Kylie Jenner, in their Los Angeles home. Broadcast on OSN, it has a huge following in Bahrain.

Last year the show won the US People’s Choice Award for ‘favourite TV guilty pleasure’.

The mastermind behind the Kardashian empire is assumed to be Kris Jenner, her mother and manager. Together with her sisters, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney own three upscale fashion boutiques, DASH- one in Los Angeles, one in New York, and one in Miami. In 2010, she was the highest earning reality star, with estimated earnings of $6 million.

The recently-divorced entertainer is currently in a relationship with Kanye West, a celebrated musician, director and fashion designer.

Kim’s appearance last year in Dubai for the milkshake launch was covered by hundreds of major television networks around the world.

Since news of the visit was announced, local fans have been bombarding Twitter to express their excitement. TheDivineThaj, for example, wrote: “Kim Kardashian is coming to Bahrain. I can die a happy girl now.”

And Its Nenah stated: “Kim Kardashian at The Walk Bahrain. SHUT UP! OMG, OMG OMG, OMG, OMG! HELL NO!”

Not everyone, though, is happy. Brian Dooley said: “Kim Kardashian is going to visit Bahrain at the end of the month - hasn’t the country suffered enough?”

And Manar Al Alawi added: “Kim Kardashian coming to Bahrain? I prefer tear-gas.”