JESSICA SIMPSON ON POVERTY IN AFRICA

Beautiful inside and out Jessica Simpson

Jessica Simpson says her divorce from husband Nick Lachey is insignificant compared to poverty in Africa.The 27-year-old star - whose marriage to the former 98 Degrees singer officially ended in 2006 - revealed how a charity trip to Kenya made her realise what is important in life.When asked about the 'Team Jessica' and 'Team Nick' T-shirts sold during the break-up, she told Self magazine: "I received those in the mail like it was an honor or something!"People out there need to go to Third World countries and sit with children for a little bit."Jessica has also revealed she is a strong advocate of the healing powers of therapy.She said: "I believe in therapy, and I write in my journal as well."Jessica also revealed legendary country singer Dolly Parton sent her a message of support after she forgot the words to Dolly's hit '9 to 5' during a concert in her honor last December.The singer - whose performance was cut from the line-up when the gala aired on TV - said: "I failed. I let people down. But Dolly wrote me the kindest words. She said, 'I will always love you', and 'Don't listen to what these people are saying', and 'I can't remember those words when I sing that damn song, and I wrote it!' "

MADONNA SAYS WOMAN ARE THE FUTURE

Madonna believes "women are the future of Africa".The singer, who was inspired to adopt Malawian orphan David after visiting the poverty-stricken region last year, is now working on a documentary to increase awareness of the plight of African orphans. Madonna told Vanity Fair magazine: "I want to see girls with educations. I think women are the future of Africa."The pop superstar has teamed up with director Nathan Rissman to produce a film exploring the lives of the thousands of infants and children who have been orphaned, often as the result of HIV and AIDS. Madonna said recently: "I asked one of the children in Malawi, 'If you've got the world listening to you, if there's one thing you could say to the world, what would you say? And the boy said, 'Please just help us forget we're orphans.' "Madonna, 48, adopted 19-month-old David after travelling to Malawi to help build an orphanage as part of the Raising Malawi project in October.The 'Material Girl' singer also has a ten-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from a previous relationship, and a son, Rocco, six, with her director husband Guy Ritchie.

STAR DREW BARRYMORE'S AFRICAN FILM

DREW BARRYMORE is playing documentary filmmaker again after shooting a new movie about African school children in Kenya.The actress, who made a film guide to voting in America for teenagers and young people three years ago (04), recently took off to Africa with a film crew - to capture footage of Kenya’s kids. She says, "We go all through the country. We take cargo planes and seven-hour drives and we really sort of explore many different areas, many different schools. "It was just profound and educational. I can’t wait to start putting the footage together."These children, they wanna eat and they wanna learn."

MADONNA LEAVES MALAWI PUZZLED !

Madonna has left Malawi without letting the father of her adopted son see his only child, it has been claimed. Farmer Yohane Banda is said to be distraught after two meetings for him to be reunited with 18-month-old David were cancelled.The singer visited the African country last week with baby David and daughter Lourdes, where she spent time working on projects for her charity,Raising Malawi. Although the trio went to the Home of Hope orphanage, where Madonna first met David last year, the much-publicised father and son reunion failed to materialise. A source told People magazine: "Yohane was there all day on Saturday and in the morning of her visit."He was told he would spend some time with his son but the meeting was cancelled."Madonna's representative, Liz Rosenberg, said she did not know whether the reunion took place. During the trip, it was revealed Madonna had met the three-year-old Malawian girl she reportedly wants to adopt. Despite her publicist denying she is to adopt again, Madonna reportedly told friends she is looking for a sister for David and is considering welcoming orphan Grace into her family. A source said: "Madonna was talking with Grace and looked very happy. They were together for about 15 minutes."

BONO DEFENDS HIS RED AIDS CAMPAIGN

At Least Bono Is Trying. What Are You Doing ?

Bono is furious at claims his RED campaign to raise money for AIDS sufferers has failed.It was reported yesterday the U2 singer's campaign has raised just 18 per cent of what was spent on promotion, but these claims have been denied. A RED source said: "First of all, RED didn't launch its products until mid-October. And they raised $25 million. Before that, the fund had taken in about $5 million over a four-year period. Before that, they had one T-shirt out and a pair of sunglasses."Advertising Age magazine claimed RED raised just $18 million in a year for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS in Africa, while The Gap, Apple and Motorola spent an estimated $100 million on marketing.The source added: "Bono's RED campaign didn't spend anything on marketing."The companies they work with spent a few million each. The Gap spent $7.8million. The $100 million is a phantom number Ad Age pulled out of thin air.It's off by tens of millions of dollars."Now, Motorola has a RED phone, Apple a RED Nano iPod, Converse has RED All Star sneakers, and The Gap has a full line of RED clothing. Bobby Shriver, director of the RED fund, said: "These companies are talking about the AIDS emergency in their marketing and in their stores. This can only help us all stay focused on the fact that 5,500 Africans are still dying needlessly of AIDS every day."