Angelina Jolie is not just admired for her curves, according to a recent poll which says she's the world's most respected celebrity for her philanthropic work. But the public doesn't feel the same way about pop star Madonna, who beat Paris Hilton to the dubious honor of being the world's worst celebrity humanitarian.
The poll - released on Thursday, by the Reuters Foundation's humanitarian website AlertNet, which surveyed more than 600 people from December 7 to 19 - ranked Hilton second-worst to Madonna among famous people with bad humanitarian reputations, followed by Oprah Winfrey and Bob Geldof. The poll also ranked celebrities with the best philanthropic reputations. Jolie was No. 1, trailed by Bono (who also made the "bad" list), Desmond Tutu, Bill Gates and Bill Clinton.
To top the list, Jolie had to overcome her own bad-girl, hard-partying reputation. Over the past six years, however, she's visited more than 20 humanitarian hot spots as a goodwill ambassador for the UN. On a trip to Iraq in August, she appealed for international aid to help millions of displaced Iraqis. She also has three adopted children, from Ethiopia, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Madonna, who once revelled in her own bad-girl reputation, adopted a child from Malawi in 2006. But controversy immediately followed when it was claimed Madonna had received special treatment from the Malawian government because of her celebrity.
"Madonna seems to do philanthropy the way she's done Indian culture, sex, and just about everything - like a disposable fad," said one anonymous voter. "Hope she doesn't get bored of her adopted African kid."
Yet Madonna's also been lauded by those in the humanitarian community for bringing the plight of AIDS orphans to the global stage and raising money to help them. In February she'll co-chair Gucci's 'A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi and UNICEF' with Frida Giannini, Drew Barrymore, Selma Hayek and Sarah Jessica Parker at the United Nations.
Jolie's husband Brad Pitt is also considered a serious humanitarian, despite his celebrity. He came in 10th on the list of famous people who are respected for their philanthropic work, just behind Don Cheadle and Mia Farrow. All three were recognized for their advocacy on behalf of Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.
U2's Bono made both lists. Apparently he's both respected and disrespected for his work in the fight against HIV/AIDS, extreme poverty and crippling debt because he's seen as doing so to feed his own ego.
"This guy probably believes he's the new Messiah," said one voter.
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