Shakira

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on 2 February 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia. She is the only child of William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia Ripoll Torrado. Her parents are of Lebanese and Spanish descent, though she has distant Italian roots through an ancestor with the surname Pisciotti. She was raised Catholic and attended Catholic schools. Shakira has eight older half-siblings from her father's previous marriage. She spent much of her youth in Barranquilla, a city located on the northern Caribbean coast of Colombia. Shakira wrote her first poem, titled "La Rosa de Cristal" ('The Crystal Rose'), when she was four years old, Shakira grew up in reasonably comfortable family conditions until her father, a jeweler, went bankrupt when she was eight. Her parents sent her to stay for a while with relatives in Los Angeles. When she came back, their two cars, furniture and color TV were gone and she had to adjust to a different reality. She was able to buy her parents a car when she was 14, after receiving some money for the release of the Magia album. She was often sent out of class because of her hyperactivity. To make Shakira appreciate more the modest conditions of her upbringing, her father took her to a local park so she could see orphans who lived there. The images stayed with her and she said to herself, "one day I'm going to help these kids when I become a famous artist". ==Career==

1990–1993: Magia and Peligro Shakira's debut album, Magia, was released in June 1991 under Sony Music Colombia. Recording began in 1990 when she was 13; the album consists of pop rock ballads and disco uptempo songs with Shakira writing the majority of the album's tracks. The album featured her debut single "Magia" as well as "Sueños" and "Esta Noche Voy Contigo". Magia was not a commercial success and only 1,200 copies were sold in Colombia. Shakira's second studio album, Peligro, was released in March 1993. It features the singles "Tú Serás la Historia de Mi Vida", "Eres", "Peligro", and "Brujería". Shakira was not pleased with the final result, taking issue mainly with the production. The album was better received than Magia had been, but it became another commercial failure. In 1993–1994, she acted in the Colombian telenovela El Oasis, playing the character of Luisa Maria. Having been moved up in her classwork ahead of her age, Shakira graduated from a convent secondary school when she was 15, Her third studio album, Pies Descalzos, was released in October 1995. It reached number five on the U.S. Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. The album spawned six singles, all of which peaked within the top 20 of the U.S. Latin chart: "Estoy Aquí", "¿Dónde Estás Corazón?", "Pies Descalzos, Sueños Blancos", "Un Poco de Amor", "Antología", and "Se Quiere, Se Mata"; the former two were top five hits. Pies Descalzos achieved top ranking in eight countries, Pies Descalzos eventually sold over 5 million copies. In October 1995, Shakira commenced Tour Pies Descalzos, her first international tour. Its 118 shows in Latin America, the U.S. and Spain took two years to complete. That year, she released the remix album The Remixes, of which over one million were sold. Dónde Están los Ladrones?, Shakira's fourth studio album, was released in September 1998. It was recorded at the Miami studio of Gloria and Emilio Estefan. including 1.5 million in the U.S., making it one of the best selling Spanish albums there. the album topped the Latin charts and sale statistics. 2001–2004: Laundry Service and English transition Upon the successes of Dónde Están los Ladrones? and MTV Unplugged, Shakira began working on an English crossover album. "Whenever, Wherever", called "Suerte" in the simultaneously published Spanish language version, was released at the end of August 2001 as the first and lead single from Shakira's fifth studio album. The song took heavy influence from Andean music, including the charango and pan flute in its instrumentation. It became an international success by reaching number one in most countries. In the U.S., it reached number six on the Hot 100. Its success established Shakira's musical presence in the mainstream North American market. Laundry Service became the best-selling album of 2002 and eventually more than 15 million copies were sold worldwide. She also won the Latin Grammy Award for the category of Best Short Form Music Video for the Spanish version of "Objection (Tango)"). In October, she won five MTV Video Music Awards Latin America for Best Female Artist, Best Pop Artist, Best Artist – North (Region), Video of the Year (for "Suerte"), and Artist of the Year. "La Tortura", the lead single from Shakira's sixth studio album Fijación Oral, Vol. 1, was released in April 2005 and features Spanish balladeer Alejandro Sanz. On 8 February 2006, Shakira won her second Grammy Award, winning Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. She received four Latin Grammy Awards in November 2006, winning in the categories of Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "La Tortura", Album of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Album for Fijación Oral, vol. 1. festival in 2008 Shakira's second English album and seventh studio album, Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, was released in November 2005. The lead single for Oral Fixation, vol. 2, "Don't Bother", missed the top 40 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Also in 2007, Shakira and Wyclef Jean recorded their second duet, "King & Queen", featured on Jean's album Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. She contributed three songs featured in the film Love in the Time of Cholera (2007): a version of "Pienso en ti" from her 1995 album Pies Descalzos, "Hay Amores" and "Despedida". "Despedida" was nominated for Best Original Song at the 65th Golden Globe Awards. 2008–2009: She Wolf in 2009 In early 2008, Forbes named Shakira the fourth top-earning female artist in the music industry. In July, she signed a $312 million contract with Live Nation Entertainment, an international touring conglomerate, which was to remain in effect for ten years. According to the artist, the deal would encompass tours, recordings, sponsorship and merchandise worldwide. Her existing contract with Epic Records (Sony Music Entertainment) called for three more albums – one in English, one in Spanish, and a compilation, but the touring and other rights under the Live Nation contract were to begin immediately. On 18 January 2009, Shakira was among the participants of the "We Are One" festivities in honor of the inauguration of President Barack Obama, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. She sang "Higher Ground" with Stevie Wonder and Usher. In March 2009, a studio recording of "La Maza" by Sosa featuring Shakira was released on Sosa's album Cantora, un Viaje Íntimo. In July 2009, Shakira released "She Wolf" as the lead single from an upcoming album with the same title. The single was a commercial success, receiving certifications in 17 countries. Her eighth studio and third (mostly) English album She Wolf was released in October 2009. It received mainly positive reviews from critics. Mike Diver on BBC Review saw in it "perhaps the most enjoyably varied pop album of 2009" but detected "a greater sense of passion in songs playing out in her native tongue". Beyond the chart-conquering smashes, Shakira had "often explored some truly mind-boggling pop territories, deep-drilling for veins of inspiration absolutely alien to so many of her peers". Favorite Latin Albums, and Favorite Pop Albums lists. It reached number one on the charts of Argentina, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, and Switzerland. It also charted inside the top five in Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. It debuted at number fifteen on the Billboard 200. It was certified double-platinum in Colombia and Mexico, platinum in Italy and Spain, and gold in numerous countries including France and the United Kingdom. Over two million copies were sold worldwide, making She Wolf less successful in terms of sales than Shakira's other albums. Four singles were released off the album: "She Wolf", "Did It Again", "Give It Up to Me", and "Gypsy". "Good Stuff" was released as the album's sole promotional single. The heavily electronic She Wolf record was produced by Shakira. 2010–2014: "Waka Waka", Sale el Sol and Shakira In 2010, Shakira collaborated with the South African Afro fusion band Freshlyground to create the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)". For her involvement with the World Cup related campaigns and other philanthropic work, Shakira received the 2010 Free Your Mind MTV award. At the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards ceremony, Sale el Sol was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Album, winning the award in the latter category. Commercially, the album was a success throughout Europe and Latin America. It peaked atop the charts of Belgium, Croatia, France, Mexico, Portugal, and Spain. In the U.S., it debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the highest debut for a Latin album for the year; it was Shakira's fifth album to peak at number one in the Latin albums category. Its lead single, "Loca", was number one in several countries. "Sale el Sol", "Rabiosa", "Antes de las Seis", and "Addicted to You" were also released as singles. The album has sold ten million copies since its release. In September 2010 Shakira embarked on the Sale el Sol World Tour. Countries in North America, Europe, South America, Asia, and Africa were visited, with 106 shows in all. The tour was met with positive reactions from critics, who praised her stage presence and energy. In August 2011, she participated in an episode of Dora the Explorer animated TV series. A song titled "Todos Juntos" by Dora, featuring Shakira, was released with a music video. Promoted with the single "Je l'aime à mourir", in December 2011 her fourth live album, Live from Paris, was released. In early 2012, Shakira signed to Roc Nation. She collaborated with rapper Pitbull for the song "Get It Started", a single from his 2012 album Global Warming. The single was released in June 2012. In September 2012, it was announced that Shakira and Usher would replace in March 2013 Christina Aguilera and CeeLo Green as coaches for the fourth season of the U.S. TV show The Voice. Shakira also served on the sixth season of the series. In January 2013, Ivete Sangalo released "Dançando", a single featuring Shakira, off Sangalo's album Real Fantasia. In February 2013, Draco Rosa released "Blanca Mujer", a duet with Shakira as a promotional single for his album Vida. Shakira originally intended to release a new album in 2012, but plans to release a single and video were postponed due to her pregnancy. In December 2013 it was announced that Shakira's new single, "Can't Remember to Forget You", a duet with Rihanna, would be issued in January 2014. Shakira, the artist's self-titled tenth studio album, produced by her, was released in March 2014. RCA chose "Dare (La La La)" as the third single. The song "Medicine" was released as a promotional single off the album. On 13 July 2014, Shakira performed "La La La (Brazil 2014)" with Carlinhos Brown at the 2014 FIFA World Cup closing ceremony at the Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. 2015–2021: El Dorado Shakira's work on her eleventh studio album, the mostly Spanish El Dorado, had been in progress from the latter part of 2015. Among her other projects was starring as a voice actress in the 2016 animated movie Zootopia. the song was a track from the upcoming El Dorado. It became her most-viewed YouTube video, with over 2.1 billion views as of 1 June 2018. Maluma had previously created a remix to "La Bicicleta". Shakira was featured on the single "Comme moi" by French rapper Black M. Its official release as El Dorado's third single took place on 15 September, the same date its music video, filmed in Barcelona, was premiered. Before being released as a single, "Perro Fiel" was already certified gold in Spain. "Trap" was released in January 2018 as the fourth single off the album, her second collaboration with Maluma. it made her the only female Latin artist to have done so. The album also earned her a top Latin Grammy and she was recognized by a number of other prizes. With El Dorado, she had received thirteen Grammys overall, including ten Latin Grammys. After several postponements due to Shakira's vocal injuries, the tour commenced in Hamburg on 3 June. In January 2020, she released "Me Gusta", a collaboration with Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA. According to Billboard, the halftime show had a viewership of 103 million people, while 102 million watched the game itself. It was the most viewed halftime show by then on YouTube. Shakira called attention to the Afro-Colombian community by doing a traditional champeta dance break. and Global Goal: Unite for Our Future (with "Sale el Sol"). In December 2020, she teamed up with Black Eyed Peas on the single "Girl Like Me", written as a tribute to Latin women. 2022–present: Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran In 2022, Shakira began releasing singles from her then-upcoming twelfth studio album. The lead single was "Te Felicito", a collaboration with Rauw Alejandro, released on 21 April 2022. On 19 May she was granted the Special International Award with Apple Music at the British Ivors Academy's Ivor Novello Awards. On 31 May, the dance competition show Dancing with Myself premiered on NBC; Shakira served as an executive producer and judge alongside Liza Koshy and Nick Jonas. The series was canceled after one season. In June, Shakira released "Don't You Worry", a collaboration with Black Eyed Peas and David Guetta. "Monotonía", a collaboration with Ozuna, was released in October as the second single from her twelfth studio album. It was the most-successful Spanish language debut of 2022, the biggest female solo debut on YouTube, and the biggest song debut in Shakira's career. It reached number one in 16 countries, achieved 14 Guinness World Records, and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Shakira's fifth top-ten in the U.S. and her first since "Beautiful Liar" (2007). She became the first woman to debut a Spanish language track in the top-ten of the chart. A diss track aimed at Shakira's ex-partner, Gerard Piqué, and had a measurable cultural impact. On 24 February 2023, the single ″TQG″ by Karol G and Shakira was released. Debuting in the U.S. at number 7, it broke the Guinness World Record for the highest-charting Spanish language track by a woman in the country. It debuted atop the Global 200, her first number one. Further singles from Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, "Acróstico", "Copa Vacía", and "El Jefe" were released in May, June, and September respectively. On 29 July 2023, Shakira became the first woman to occupy the top three on the Latin Pop Airplay chart with "TQG" at the summit followed by "Acróstico" and "Copa Vacía" respectively. On 12 September, she received the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards and performed a medley of her hits. At the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, she was nominated in seven categories, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Shakira became the first artist in the show's history to receive three nominations for Song of the Year in a single ceremony—with "Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53", "TQG", and "Acróstico". She won Song of the Year and Best Pop Song for the former and Best Urban/Fusion Performance for "TQG". The all-Spanish Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran album was released on 22 March 2024 through Sony Music Latin. She called the creative process "alchemical" and that it turned her "tears into diamonds" and her "vulnerability into strength". The album received generally positive reviews from music critics. Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran debuted at number 13 on the U.S. Billboard 200, with 34,000 album-equivalent units sold in its first week. It debuted atop the Top Latin Albums and Latin Pop Albums charts, making Shakira the first woman with number one albums across four decades on the Billboard Latin album charts. It was certified seven-times platinum (Latin) upon release. "Puntería", a collaboration with rapper Cardi B, was released as the eighth single in tandem with the album, followed by "(Entre Paréntesis)", the album's ninth and final single on 25 March. "Puntería" reached number one on the Latin Airplay, Latin Pop Airplay, and the Regional Mexican Airplay charts, her first chart-topper on the latter. On 26 March, Shakira held a free pop-up concert in New York's Times Square. On 14 July, Shakira performed several of her hits at the 2024 Copa América final, Argentina vs. Colombia match, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. It was the first halftime show at a soccer championship game. On 25 September, she released the single "Soltera". Topping the Latin Pop Airplay chart and reaching number two on Latin Airplay, it tied her with Enrique Iglesias for the most number ones on the former chart. In May 2025, "Soltera" received the Favorite Latin Song award at the American Music Awards, making Shakira the most-awarded female Latin artist in the show's history. She received three nominations at the 25th Annual Latin Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran and Song of the Year for "(Entre Paréntesis)". At the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran received the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album. The Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour commenced in February 2025, Shakira's first tour since 2018. A number of dates were added across multiple countries and 90 shows were eventually scheduled. Shakira performed with Wyclef Jean on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on 6 May 2025 for the 20th anniversary of "Hips Don't Lie". On 23 May 2025, Shakira and Alejandro Sanz released the duet "Bésame", their third collaboration. On 22 October, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pies Descalzos and 20th anniversary of the two Oral Fixation albums, Shakira released a five-track EP recording of a Spotify concert featuring live versions of past hits. She performed with special guests Luis Fernando Ochoa, Ed Sheeran, Beéle, and the New York Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. On 4 March 2026, Shakira and Beéle released the single "Algo Tú". On 9 April, Anitta and Shakira released "Choka Choka", a single from Anitta's upcoming album EQUILIBRIVM and their first collaboration. The tour performances planned for March–April in several Arab countries and India had to be postponed or canceled because of security concerns caused by the Iran war. A Todo Mundo show in Rio de Janeiro on 2 May, 13 additional concerts in the U.S. in June–July and 11 in Madrid in September–October were announced. ==Artistry ==

Music executive Freddy DeMann, who managed Shakira's career from early 2000, spoke of her: " I was blown away by how gorgeous she was in person. She's a brilliant songwriter. She has an unbelievable voice; her vocal instrument is phenomenal and unique. She dances better than anyone out there, and she writes her own songs, sings her own songs, and she actually plays her own instruments. And she produces her own music. She's the whole package". Black hair rock era of Pies Descalzos and Dónde Están los Ladrones? , one of Shakira's influences early in her career From her early teens, Shakira was influenced by rock music, Metallica, Nirvana, The Beatles, the Police, The Cure, She cited Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" as the song that made her appreciate the power of the electric guitar and "kick started her passion for music". The Remixes album, released in 1997, features extended electronic dance music and Portuguese language versions of some of the tracks from Pies Descalzos. The musical arrangements of songs on the record are completely new and so are many of Shakira's vocals. In Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998), Shakira "unleashes a maelstrom of infectious energy" with a mesmerizing voice of which there is no other, "a deep vibrato" that "leaves listeners spellbound". She displays her "bohemian rockera persona" and, through "powerful balladry" and "lyrical depth with incisive social commentary", demonstrates wisdom beyond her age. "Her songwriting shines throughout" Laundry Service is a pop and rock album, impacted by other genres and styles. The singer credited this to her mixed ethnicity and background, saying: "I am a fusion. That's my persona. I'm a fusion between black and white, between pop and rock, between cultures – between my Lebanese father and my mother's Spanish blood, the Colombian folklore and Arab dance I love and American music." Shakira was the first Latin crossover artist who attained critical acclaim from the mainstream U.S. rock press. Musical styles from different South American countries surface on the album. Tango, a style of fast-paced ballroom dance that originated in Argentina, Shakira sings in its rock version, "Objection (Tango)" / "Te aviso, te anuncio (tango)". Shakira said in 2002: "My music, I think, is a fusion of many different elements. And I'm always experimenting. So I try not to limit myself, or put myself in a category, or... be the architect of my own jail." She had been inspired by the music of Asia, and in particular by Indian music, which influenced her works, including dancing. Proud of her Arab ancestry, she told Portuguese TV "Many of my movements belong to Arab culture." South American folk music, especially Andean music, influenced her and she had used its native instrumentation, most notably in "Whenever, Wherever" / "Suerte", Shakira's grand anthem and the song which "established her as a global superstar" (music co-written by Tim Mitchell, English words by Gloria M. Estefan). In its Spanish and English videos, the artist features "her signature iconic hip-swiveling dance moves". Laundry Service also includes the dance-pop track "Ready for the Good Times", the ballad "The One", "Underneath Your Clothes" (music co-written by Lester Mendez), "Que Me Quedes Tú", and other songs. The album consists mostly of pop songs. Besides "La Tortura", "No", "Día de Enero" and "Las de la Intuición" were issued as singles. She termed She Wolf a "sonic experimental trip" and said she researched folk music from different countries, including "Oriental and Hindu music, dancehall, etc." Among the songs on the record, there are "Good Stuff", the Spanish and Oriental in character "Años Luz" or "Why Wait", "Did It Again" or "Lo Hecho Está Hecho", and "Men in This Town", which possibly epitomizes the intended club dance spirit of the album. Sale el Sol and Shakira Shakira's next album, the mostly-Spanish Sale el Sol (2010), was meant to be a return to her beginnings and is therefore very different from its predecessor. It comprises ballads, rock songs, and Latin dance songs. Reggaeton, merengue and cumbia are among the styles utilized in the eclectic album. The English and Spanish versions of the previously released Waka Waka were included. Shakira collaborates with El Cata on "Loca", with Pitbull on "Rabiosa" and with Residente on "Gordita". Residente raps about "liking Shakira better when she was chubbier, had dark hair and was a rockera". "Chasing Shadows" has been called "a sublime electro-pop moment". The country pop song "Medicine" features Blake Shelton. El Dorado El Dorado (2017), named after the City of Gold envisioned by the Muisca people of Colombia, "shines with resounding versatility and cultural pride" and provides the listener with "a rich musical treasure trove". Among the album's hits are the reggaeton "Chantaje" with Maluma and vallenato "La Bicicleta" with Carlos Vives. Shakira utilizes the styles of música urbana. "Me Enamoré" refers to Shakira's love for Gerard Piqué back then and it starkly contrasts with the narrative of her next album, Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. In "Toneladas", a ballad written with Luis Fernando Ochoa, Shakira "highlights her emotive prowess" being happy with "toneladas masivas de amor" ('massive tons of love'). "Deja Vu", "a sensual bachata fusion", features Prince Royce. According to the Billboard reviewers, however, the message of the song "When a Woman" contrasts with the empowering essence of Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran sharply and in an unsettling way. Boutayna Chokrane wrote that in Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran the singer "signals a deliberate and timely return to her roots", "takes big swings and extends her dominance". Describing herself as being in a survival and reflection stage, Shakira "celebrates the strength of womanhood". As she continues "to craft melodies and lyrics that evoke pain, passion and allure", she sings by herself in such tracks as "Tiempo Sin Verte" and "Última", or collaborates with Cardi B, Karol G, Ozuna, Grupo Frontera, or Rauw Alejandro. With Argentine DJ Bizarrap she first produced "Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53", the "wildly unapologetic kiss-off" to her ex and an iconic "female empowerment anthem". Las Mujeres features two versions of "Vol. 53". The song's video shows Shakira and Bizarrap performing in the studio. At Times Square, the Tiësto remix was used with her singing and dancing. In the opening electropop "Puntería", Shakira sings, Cardi B sings and raps, and the action in the video takes place in a mythological setting. In September 2024, she released the lively, Afrobeats-influenced song titled "Soltera". Focused at this point on her sons and career, she extols the virtues and pleasures of living without a male partner. The song was followed in October with its video, which "is all about a carefree night out with friends", mostly Shakira's fellow female celebrities. Dance and stage appearance Next to performing music, Shakira is dedicated to dancing. She credited her belly dance-derived dancing with helping her overcome shyness. Her distinctive style is said to combine Latin dancing with Middle Eastern belly dance, which she was exposed to because of her Lebanese heritage. As Shakira said, "because my father is of 100 percent Lebanese descent, I am devoted to Arabic tastes and sounds". She told MTV that she learned how to belly dance by trying to flip a coin with her belly. Her hip shaking is mentioned, for example, in Fifth Harmony's "Brave Honest Beautiful" song, where the girl group members claim they can "dance like Beyoncé" and "shake like Shakira". In her earlier live performances, Shakira was noted for usually employing minimal production, taking to the stage with little makeup and, until and including the El Dorado World Tour, without or with few background dancers. She preferred to focus on her vocals, dance moves, and stage presence. In 2006 she confessed, however, to "getting lost in a cloud of hairdressers, make-up artists and assistants" for years, but declared "reclaiming her image" and doing her own make-up. Isabelia Herrera, a music editor, critic and curator, wrote of Shakira's "fascinating, idiosyncratic songwriting". Ted Kessler described her as having "the range of an operatic diva". "She's a rock girl through and through. Her singing is full-throated and urgent, her manner commanding onstage or on record" – wrote in 2002 Evan Wright of the Rolling Stone magazine. Instruments In her pre-Laundry Service rock performances, Shakira played harmonica extensively. Professional guitar technician Drew Foppe, who has worked with Shakira on several of her tours, spoke on her instrument playing and competence:She can play the guitar just fine. She plays both acoustic and electric guitars on stage. There really isn't anything that happens on stage that she isn't in complete control over, from the tones, arrangements, and the overall look of everything. It's her baby, so to speak. She isn't really a gear nerd. However, she knows exactly what she wants things to sound like from every single instrument on stage. ... The aesthetics of how a piece of gear looks is just as important as how it sounds with Shakira. ==Legacy==

erected in 2023 in Barranquilla, Colombia Shakira is a prominent figure in Latin and world music. Steve Huey of AllMusic described her (22 November 2009) as a "wildly inventive diva who created a cross-cultural pop sound rooted in her native Colombia but encompassing nearly every territory in the world. ... Noted for her aggressive, rock-influenced approach, Shakira maintained an extraordinary degree of creative control over her music, especially for a female artist; she wrote or co-wrote nearly all of her own material, and in the process gained a reputation as one of Latin music's most ambitiously poetic lyricists. When she released her first English material in late 2001, she became an instant pop sensation, thanks to her quirky poetic sense and a sexy video image built on her hip-shaking belly dance moves." Fiona Sturges of The Independent named Shakira an "international phenomenon". "At the MTV Europe Awards in November" (2005), she wrote, (Shakira) "was the winner of the Best Female award, seeing off rivals Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, Missy Elliott and Mariah Carey". "With her Lebanese ancestry and English-language songs — with her huge bilingual hit 'Hips Don't Lie', done with the Haitian-American singer Wyclef Jean, for example — Shakira showed how universal a Latin artist could be. At the same time, in a difficult balance, she has tried to stay Latin American", wrote in 2009 in The New York Times Magazine Scott Malcomson. Shakira's global success differs from that achieved by other famous Latino singers such as Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan or Enrique Iglesias, because it has been accomplished by a star who grew up in South America, the first one of this type to crossover globally. According to Spin, Shakira has paved the way for such Latin artists as Maluma and J Balvin to crossover. Lucas Villa summarized in the Paper magazine (2020): "In her wake, Colombia has become a hotspot for talent with recent exports like J Balvin, Maluma and Karol G. As Latin music continues to become a global force, we can't forget to remember Shakira's impact in the movement." In December 2020, Entertainment Tonight perceived Shakira as "one of the most influential artists of the 21st century". Shakira has been called "the crossover queen" by The Economist, "the queen of the World Cup" by Billboard, and "Latin America's pop queen" by Pitchfork. Billboard noted that Shakira's music videos had "redefined the role of dancing in music videos", seeing her as the best Latin female music video artist of all time. The authors of the book Reggaeton, published by Duke University Press, credited Shakira with popularizing the reggaeton genre in North America, Europe and Asia. The Public Broadcasting Service wrote after the release of the album Shakira: "Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin and Shakira are the most successful artists of the so-called Golden Age of Latin Music which reshaped America's cultural landscape for the twenty-first century". Alongside her impact on Latin and mainstream popular culture, Shakira has also influenced popular culture in the Arab world. In a publication titled Popular Culture in the Arab World: Arts, Politics, and the Media, author Andrew Hammond wrote: "Inspired by the success of Colombian singer Shakira, who is hugely popular in the Arab world where her Lebanese origin is a source of pride, singers like Lebanon's Nawal El Zoghbi and Morocco's Samira Said have shifted their image and sound in an attempt to follow in her footsteps". On the other hand, the newspaper El Correo del Golfo wrote that Shakira was the greatest exponent of Middle Eastern music in the West, citing her interest in Arabic music and dance. In 1999, Shakira's MTV Unplugged concert was the first time an "unplugged" episode was broadcast entirely in Spanish. It became her major breakthrough in the U.S. music market. A Latin performance and a Latina solo act were unprecedented in the series. In 2001, "Whenever, Wherever" music video was aired on MTV with both the English and Spanish versions. According to a spokesman for the channel, for the first time U.S. MTV had aired a Spanish-language video. "La Tortura" was the first full Spanish-language music video to air on MTV without an English version. In 2005, Sanz and Shakira performed "La Tortura" at the MTV Video Music Awards (the first Spanish-language song featured there). In 2018, "Hips Don't Lie" was selected as one of the greatest songs by 21st century female artists by National Public Radio, ranked at number 65. "Crossover artists often sacrifice something about their musical identities to appease a U.S. listenership. Shakira's biggest single, 'Hips Don't Lie', did the opposite. Though never marketed as reggaeton, it's the most popular song in the genre's history", wrote NPR. "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" was called by Billboard "the most successful World Cup anthem ever" (2018). Published by the U.S. Bureau of International Information Programs, the journal Global Issues (2006) cited Shakira as one of the celebrities "in today's globalized world" who "made it big by sharing the uniqueness of their talent and culture with the global community". The Paper magazine wrote in 2020 about Shakira's longevity and her, a pre-digital era artist, ability to successfully crack the digital-streaming era of music: "The self-proclaimed 'She Wolf' is a titan in the digital era of music where she devours billions of streams with her catalog". In 2010, Google revealed that Shakira was the most searched female entertainer of the year. In 2020, she was the most Googled musician / band of the year and the 7th most searched person. Many artists have cited Shakira as an influence, expressed their admiration for her as a person and an artist, or desire to work with her on joint music projects. The list includes Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Justin Bieber, Maluma, Ozuna, Ed Sheeran, Anitta, Cardi B, and Beyoncé, among others. Intellectuals and writers have admired Shakira. Colombian Nobel Prize winning novelist Gabriel García Márquez wrote in 1999 "no one of any age can sing or dance with the innocent sensuality Shakira seems to have invented". The Guardian published in November 2009 an essay by Euan Ferguson titled "The making of Saint Shakira". Among its topics are Shakira's impact on Colombia's social change, especially in the area of childhood education, and her ability to effectively discuss issues with such world leaders as Barack Obama and Gordon Brown ("she gets things done"). On the popular level, she is celebrated "as something of a saint" and "accorded near-divine status" in Colombia and elsewhere in Latin America. Ferguson found Shakira quite authentic and convincing intellectually. He wrote: "Something very strange happens, in the company of Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, to cynicism. ... Not arrogant or demanding ... she not only knows what she's talking about, but puts her money where her mouth is ... she's Madonna gone right". For The Independent (a November 2010 article), Shakira is a "living proof that pop and politics can mix". The newspaper wonders how she "balances battling poverty with squeezing into sequinned bikinis", but notes that because of her stature and through her efforts she is able to have "the ear of the global political elite". In one instance, as witnessed by the paper's Craig McLean at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting, Shakira, "a confidante of both Colombian and American presidents", appeared as comfortable mingling with political heavyweights as she was the night before, when she performed a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden. McLean commended her accented but very fluent English and observed, referring to the 2009 "She Wolf" video and its publicity, that she "is clearly happier, more confident, geo-politicking than talking about her own sexual politics". Shakira is, he concluded, "as sagacious as she is glam". Announcing its partnership with Shakira, "the world's iconic artist", the Despegar company wrote in June 2024: "Shakira has challenged the boundaries of art and music, establishing herself as one of the most influential and beloved artists of all time". The singer speaks Spanish, Portuguese, English, Italian, French, and Catalan. Monuments • In 2006, a , sculpture of Shakira was installed in her hometown Barranquilla in a park near Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez. • In July 2018, Shakira visited Tannourine in Lebanon, the village of her paternal great-grandmother and father. Accompanied by officials, she went to the Tannourine Cedar Reserve, where two trees were dedicated to her and a square in the forest was named after her. • In December 2023, Shakira's hometown of Barranquilla honored her with a 21-foot bronze statue in a park along the banks of the Magdalena River. The sculpture shows the curly-haired singer belly dancing with her arms overhead, in a sheer skirt with shiny aluminum decoration. ==Achievements==

Mall's Ritmo Latino Shakira has received numerous awards and recognition for her work. She is the recipient of four Grammy Awards and fifteen Latin Grammy Awards—the second most for a female artist. With over 95 million records sold by 2023, Shakira is one of the world's best-selling musicians. Three of her albums are among the best-selling Latin albums in the U.S.: Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (8th), Dónde Están los Ladrones? (9th) and Pies Descalzos (23rd); she is the female artist with the highest number of best-selling Latin albums in the country. Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 had become the best-selling Latin pop album and the second best-selling Latin album overall of the 2000s decade in the U.S. Dónde Están los Ladrones? has also been one of the best-selling albums in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Pies Descalzos has been among the best-selling albums in Brazil and Colombia. According to Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems, "Hips Don't Lie" was the most-played pop song in a single week in American radio history, being played 9,657 times in one week. The song made Shakira the first artist in the history of Billboard charts to reach number-one spots on both the Mainstream Top 40 and the Hot Latin Songs chart in the same week (27 June 2006). She became the only artist from South America with number-one spots on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the Australian ARIA Charts, and the UK singles chart. Shakira is the female artist with most top-ten hits on the Billboards Hot Latin Songs chart (37). Her song "La Tortura" at one time held the chart's record for most weeks at number one, with the total of 25 non-consecutive weeks. She has also had most number-one songs on the Latin Digital Song Sales chart (18) and is the female artist with most number-one hits on the Latin Airplay chart (24). In 2008, Shakira was named honorary chairperson of the Global Campaign for Education. In February 2011, at its Cultural Rhythms festival, the Harvard Foundation named Shakira Artist of the Year, awarding her its most prestigious medal. The foundation's director praised the nominee: "Her contributions to music and distinguished history of creativity have been applauded by people throughout the world, and she is greatly admired worldwide for her humanitarian efforts". The Harvard Gazette wrote of "Shakira's commitment to education and to the needs of those suffering around the world ... advanced through her humanitarian work". Nokia stated in 2010 that there were more Shakira music downloads in the prior year than of any other Latin artist; "She Wolf" was the top download. In December 2010, she was ranked number five on Billboard's "Online Video's Most Viral Artists of 2010" list, with 404,118,932 views. In November 2011, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honored Shakira with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in the Category of Recording. The announcement summarized her achievements as an artist and advocate for social causes, including her October 2011 nomination to the White House Education Commission. Also in November Shakira was declared, at the Latin Grammys, the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. In January 2012, she received the honor of ''Chevalier De L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' from French minister of culture. The medal recognizes significant contributions to the arts and literature. In 2014, Shakira became the first musical act to perform three times at the FIFA World Cup. Aleiodes shakirae, a newly-described species of parasitic wasp, was named after her because it causes its host (a caterpillar) to "shake and wiggle". Forbes ranked Shakira on its list of the "World's 100 Most Powerful Women" at number 40 in 2012, 52 in 2013, and 58 in 2014. In 2015, Time recognized Shakira as one of the most influential people on social media. Shakira and Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner were the only Latin influencers on Time's list. The magazine mentioned Shakira's "social capital", her having more Facebook fans than anybody else, and her "unparalleled platform" on social media, where she effectively promoted her work and philanthropy. In 2018, Spotify listed Shakira as number 10 most-streamed female artist of the decade of the platform's existence; she had been the highest streamed Latin artist. In 2020, Shakira became the first female artist with four songs from different decades to have over 100 million streams on Spotify. She was the only artist with Spanish songs, the only Latin artist, and third overall, after Michael Jackson and Eminem, to achieve this milestone. In the same year, she broke the Vevo Certified Awards record, becoming the artist with the most videos with over 100 million views. By 2023, with over 20 billion cumulative views, she was one of the top-10 artists overall of all time on YouTube. In 2019, Houston Press listed Shakira as one of the women who should have been introduced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2022, MTV (Latin America) included Shakira in the list of "the most influential women in the history of music", as the only Latina on the list. In May 2023, Billboard honored Shakira as the "Latin Woman of the Year", the first time the magazine bestowed this distinction. She was ranked at number 45 on Billboards 2025 "Top 100 Women Artists of the 21st Century" list. ==Philanthropy, humanitarian work and politics==

and King Juan Carlos I of Spain, during the 2008 Ibero-American Summit in El Salvador In 1997, Shakira founded Fundación Pies Descalzos (the Barefoot Foundation), a Colombian charity. On 3 April 2006, Shakira was honored at a United Nations ceremony for establishing the Pies Descalzos Foundation. Accepting the award, the singer said: "Let's not forget at the end of this day when we all go home, 960 children will have died in Latin America". Besides serving many thousand children, the foundation provides support and training for their parents and communities. She spoke of "a grand alliance, between the public sector and civil society, to protect the most fragile people in our population, the children". ALAS has organized huge concert events and worked with top politicians. In the Spanish edition of the magazine GQ (October 2010), Shakira directed the words "we are all gypsies" to French President Nicolas Sarkozy. In the interview, she declared: "What is happening now to them (the gypsies) will happen to our children and our children's children. We must turn to our citizens to act for the fundamental rights of human beings and condemn all that seems to us indictable". In February 2011, the FC Barcelona Foundation and Pies Descalzos reached an agreement on children's education through sport. Shakira was the youngest artist ever honored at the Latin Grammy Awards as the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year. At a tribute dinner and concert on 9 November 2011 in Las Vegas, she received the recognition for her artistic and philanthropic contributions. The Latin Academy president spoke of being "honored to pay homage to this dynamic, socially conscious woman". In October 2011, she was appointed by President Obama to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. On 26 April 2014, Shakira was honored with the Hero Award at the Radio Disney Music Awards for her work with the Pies Descalzos Foundation and a number of other charitable organizations. event in 2017 In July 2017, Shakira sang with Chris Martin at the Global Citizen Festival in Hamburg. The aims of the periodic event were to secure funding commitments and other support for action on key issues, such as access to education, food security, and women's rights worldwide. According to Global Citizen (2025), Shakira "continues to be a powerful voice in the movement to Defeat Poverty and Defend the Planet". She was among the personalities who joined the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund's Advisory Board in October 2025. The fund was a result of Global Citizen's partnership with FIFA in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On 2 November 2018, during a visit to her birthplace Barranquilla concerning the construction of a school through her foundation, Shakira spoke about the educational policies of government of President Iván Duque of Colombia. She argued against the government's intentions to reduce the national education budget from 13% to 7%, saying, "This is unacceptable. It shows that instead of progressing forward we are moving backward. We need to invest more in education and we need to build more schools in places where there are none." She also talked about social inequality and the resulting absence of schooling for many children. In April 2020, the World Literacy Foundation announced Shakira as the recipient of the 2020 Global Literacy Award for "her significant contribution to the improvement of literacy for disadvantaged children around the world". "While her success in the music and performance industry has taken the world by storm, her support for children's literacy and education has only improved and gained traction over the years", in the world where illiteracy is an acute global crisis, stressed the foundation. In May 2020, Shakira donated more than 50,000 face masks and ten respirators to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in her hometown of Barranquilla. In October 2020, she was appointed by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge a member of the Earthshot Prize Council, to decide on prizes ("environment Nobel") for five environmental pioneers per year, individuals or organizations, providing them with funds needed to further their work on problems impacting the environment. During the 2021 Colombian protests, Shakira condemned the violence and demanded from President Iván Duque to "immediately stop the human rights violations" and "restitute the value of human life above any political interest". Shakira's wrote an op-ed commentary for Time magazine, published on 30 October 2020 under the title "Shakira: The Parents of 545 Children Are Missing, and the Silence Is Blaring". Her immediate concern was the fate of 545 children separated at the U.S.–Mexico border from their parents, whose whereabouts were unknown. She strongly criticized the U.S. border control and immigration practices, asking "How ... could a nation built on the shoulders of immigrants ... have such unimaginably cruel immigration policies?" She asserted that "This is not about politics. There is simply no justification for the harm caused to these innocent children, and the people responsible for this cruel policy must be held accountable." She noted that "speaking up isn't always easy, especially when one is not an American citizen and can be perceived as an outsider commenting on domestic policies". She introduced herself as "the daughter of a New Yorker", referring to the place of birth of her father. On International Women's Day, 8 March 2021, Global Citizen wrote about "14 feminist heroes one should know and celebrate". Shakira was listed alongside a diverse group of well-known female personalities that included Beyoncé, Jane Fonda, Hillary Clinton, Winnie Mandela, and Dolly Parton. On 2 February 2025, Shakira's 48th birthday, at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, she received the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album for Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. She dedicated the award on stage to her "brothers and sisters", immigrants in the U.S., stating, "I want to dedicate this award to all my immigrant brothers and sisters in this country. You're loved, worth it and I will always fight with you. And to all of those women who work really hard every day to provide for their families, you are the real she wolves. So this is for you, too." Shakira had been reported to have been worried about the safety and well-being of her children and herself as immigrants in the U.S. Her June 2025 show in the Los Angeles area was postponed to August because of the immigration policy and enforcement-related civil unrest in the vicinity in June. ==Other undertakings==

Shakira has engaged in different businesses and pursuits. She and the fragrance company Puig launched S by Shakira, her first beauty product and the first of Shakira Perfumes line, in 2010. Among the first perfumes released were S by Shakira and S by Shakira Eau Florale, along with lotions and body sprays. As of 2019, 30 fragrances had been released, not counting deluxe editions. On 17 September 2015, Shakira was featured as a playable bird in the game Angry Birds POP! for a limited time, and then in a special tournament in the game Angry Birds Friends. On 15 October 2015, Love Rocks Starring Shakira, a video game that featured her, was launched. On 14 August 2015, at Disney's D23 Expo, it was announced that Shakira would play a character in the Disney animated movie Zootopia. She would give voice to Gazelle, the biggest pop star in Zootopia. Shakira also recorded a song for the film, titled "Try Everything", written and composed by Sia and Stargate and released in January 2016. The movie, premiered in February 2016, brought a record-breaking box office success in several countries and earned a worldwide gross of over $1 billion, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of 2016 and the 43rd highest-grossing film of all time. On 8 November 2024, Shakira announced that she would return as Gazelle for Zootopia 2; she was going to reprise her voice role and compose a new song for the film. The song, titled "Zoo", written by Shakira, Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin, became available on 10 October 2025 and the film premiered in November. Her sons provided voices for little bunnies in Zootopia 2. Zootopia 2 became Disney's highest-grossing animated movie ever, earning over $1.7 billion worldwide by early 2026; the "Zoo" track had over 500 million streams on all platforms. On 21 September 2021, Shakira released the La Caldera NFT collection, which features four audiovisual pieces. The proceeds from the collection supported Shakira's Pies Descalzos Foundation. In December 2021, she was announced to be an executive producer for Dancing with Myself, an NBC dance competition series. The program aired in 2022. In October 2023, Epson announced a partnership with the "global icon Shakira ... a cultural influencer and change trailblazer". She became the company's brand ambassador for Epson Latin America. According to Keith Kratzberg, president and CEO at Epson America, "Shakira is an icon of creativity with unsurpassed passion for the people of Latin America". Epson stressed "the Colombian singer and songwriter's commitment to improving access to education for children in underprivileged communities". The partnership was envisaged to be a multi-year effort "across several communication channels and social media". To uplift women through the power of music and "empower her sisters this International Women's Day (8 March) and beyond", Shakira joined forces with Hard Rock International and they announced together on 27 February 2025 a year-long partnership. She also spoke of "breaking barriers and making the world a more inclusive space where every woman feels confident being themselves". The Hard Rock Heals Foundation declared donating $250,000 to Pies Descalzos Foundation. In June 2025, Shakira announced the launching of her new hair-care beauty line, Isima. Changing hairstyles and colors have been prominent in the singer's performances and Isima was "designed with the diversity and specificity of Latina hair in mind". Shakira was actively promoting her first venture into the hair-care area on her social media platforms. As of 1 July 2025, Epson announced a new partnership with the "international music icon" Shakira, who became the brand's official ambassador for the META-CWA region (Middle East, Turkey, Africa, Central and West Asia). The partnership with Shakira was to be a part of the company's Imagine New Possibilities campaign. ==Personal life==

In December 2024, Puerto Rican actor Osvaldo Ríos spoke of his past relationship with Shakira, which started when she was 20 and he was 36 and lasted nearly a year. He told of an "emotional and spiritual connection" between them and said that Shakira was very devoted to the Virgin Mary. They traveled together, often accompanied, "due to her family's traditional Lebanese roots", by Shakira's brother Tonino. Among the places they visited were Paris, Brazil and Puerto Rico. Although they wanted to get married, their respective careers eventually pulled them apart, as Ríos realized that "this bird had to fly very high" and encouraged Shakira to pursue her professional path without limitations. He named "Moscas en la Casa", "No Creo" and "Tú" as songs inspired by their romantic bond and by their love letters in particular. Shakira began a relationship with Argentine lawyer Antonio de la Rúa in 2000. Antonio is a son of Fernando de la Rúa, who was president of Argentina from 1999 to 2001. In a 2009 interview, Shakira said, "The fact is, I'm not very traditionalist. We live together as husband and wife, we don't need anything to make it official. ... Why fix things that aren't broken?" De la Rúa's civil litigation against Shakira was first reported in September 2012. He filed a suit against her in California in April 2013, asking for $100 million he claimed he was owed after she terminated her business partnership with him and his services in October 2011. His lawsuit was dismissed by a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge in August 2013. Two other lawsuits that de la Rúa filed against his former partner were also unsuccessful. Shakira also sued and a legal settlement of some sort may have been reached. A relationship ensued, for some time not revealed, and the couple took residence in Barcelona. Shakira gave birth to their first son, Milan, on 22 January 2013. She gave birth to their second son, Sasha, on 29 January 2015. According to Shakira, she learned about Piqué's "betrayal" of her (an affair with another woman) from media accounts. It happened at a difficult time for her, when her then 91-year old father was undergoing hospitalization following a bad fall he had suffered. 12 years after they met, in June 2022, Shakira and Piqué announced in a joint statement that they were separating. In 2009, Scott Malcomson wrote in The New York Times Magazine article that Shakira's life was "relentless and unlikely". Her "normal manner is intense and preoccupied, with interruptions of bright enthusiasm". Her work ethics he called "somewhat extreme". With fans, whose loyalty she seeks, "she is all attentive patience". Tax controversy In November 2017, Shakira was named in the Paradise Papers. It was disclosed that she was the sole shareholder of a Malta-based company used to transfer more than $30 million in music rights. Her legal representatives maintained that her use of the company was entirely lawful. In 2017, an investigation into Shakira's taxes was announced by the Spanish authorities. Negotiations with the Spanish Prosecution Ministry took place, but in July 2022 Shakira refused the settlement offered (its terms were not disclosed), opting to go to trial to prove her innocence. Prosecutors requested an eight-year prison sentence and a €23.8 million fine for the alleged tax fraud offenses. The singer declared "a total violation of her rights". The Barcelona judge, Ana Duro, said the trial date would be set after she receives the necessary qualifying papers from both parties. On 20 November 2023, at the commencement of the trial, a deal with prosecutors was finally reached and Shakira settled the case by paying a €7.5 million fine. In a statement, she cited her well-being and the interest of her children as factors influencing her decision. ==Discography==

• Magia (1991) • Peligro (1993) • Pies Descalzos (1995) • Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998) • Laundry Service (2001) • Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (2005) • Oral Fixation, Vol. 2 (2005) • She Wolf (2009) • Sale el Sol (2010) • Shakira (2014) • El Dorado (2017) • Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (2024) ==Tours==

• Pies Descalzos International Tour (1995–1997) • Tour Anfibio (2000) • Tour of the Mongoose (2002–2003) • Oral Fixation Tour (2006–2007) • The Sun Comes Out World Tour (2010–2011) • El Dorado World Tour (2018) • Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour (2025–2026) ==Filmography==