Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia, is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, producer and one of the most successful Latin American artists in history. Her unique voice, dance style with elements of belly dancing, and her ability to blend Latin pop, rock, Arabic motifs and global folk influences have made her a worldwide superstar.
Early life
Shakira grew up in a creative family: her father, William Mebarak, was a writer and jeweler, and her mother always supported her daughter’s artistic interests. From a very young age, the future artist showed remarkable talent:
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at 4 she began learning belly dance
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at 5 she wrote her first poem
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at 8 she wrote her first song, «Tus gafas oscuras», dedicated to her father
Shakira grew up surrounded by books, music and cultural influences from Latin America, the Middle East and the Caribbean, which later became the foundation of her distinctive style.
Between the ages of 10 and 13 she actively took part in talent contests, winning many of them.
Career beginnings: early contracts and albums
At 13, Shakira was noticed by a representative of Sony Music Colombia, signed a contract and released her debut album:
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Magia (1991) — a collection of songs she had written in childhood.
The album received airplay on local radio but was not a commercial success.
In 1993 her second album was released:
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Peligro (1993) — a more mature work, although Shakira herself was unhappy with the result and the album received little promotion.
After two commercially weak releases, Sony suggested she take a short break. During this period she moved to Bogotá, where she also tried herself as an actress, appearing in the TV series El Oasis.
Breakthrough: “Pies Descalzos” and international fame
Real success came in 1995 with the release of her third album:
Pies Descalzos (1995)
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millions of copies sold
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top positions in charts across Latin America
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hit singles: Estoy Aquí, Dónde Estás Corazón, Antología
This album turned Shakira into a leading star of the Latin American music scene.
In 1998 she released the album:
¿Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998)
It received international acclaim and is considered one of the best albums in Latin pop history. The producer was Emilio Estefan, who opened the door for Shakira to the global market.
Crossing over into the English-language market
In 2001 Shakira released her first English-language album:
Laundry Service (2001)
The single «Whenever, Wherever» became a worldwide smash hit and turned Shakira into a global superstar.
The album became:
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multi-platinum in dozens of countries
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one of the best-selling albums of the 2000s
2000s–2010s: her status as a global icon
Shakira continued to expand her musical range:
Fijación Oral Vol. 1 (2005)
— widely recognized as the best Latin album of the year, featuring the mega-hit La Tortura.
Oral Fixation Vol. 2 (2005)
— includes the hit Hips Don't Lie, which reached No. 1 in more than 55 countries.
She Wolf (2009)
— an album with electro-pop and experimental sounds.
Sale el Sol (2010)
— a return to her Latin roots, with the hit Loca.
Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (2010)
— the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which became one of the most recognizable football anthems of all time.
Recent projects and current activities
In 2017 she released the album El Dorado, which includes the hits Chantaje, Me Enamoré and La Bicicleta.
The album earned a Latin Grammy, and the El Dorado World Tour became one of the most successful tours of her career.
In 2020 Shakira performed at the Super Bowl Halftime Show together with Jennifer Lopez — one of the most talked-about shows of the decade.
From 2022 to 2024 she released a series of viral hits (BZRP Music Sessions #53, TQG, Monotonía), proving that her influence is only growing.
Style and influence
Shakira’s music blends:
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pop and rock
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Latin American music
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Arabic and Middle Eastern motifs
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belly dance as part of her stage identity
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a unique vocal tone
She plays several musical instruments and writes most of her own songs.
Personal life
Shakira has two sons from her relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué (2011–2022).
She is actively involved in philanthropy and is the founder of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, which builds schools in impoverished regions of Colombia.
Status and achievements
Shakira is one of the most successful artists of all time:
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over 80 million albums sold
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numerous awards, including 3 Grammy Awards and 12 Latin Grammys
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one of the most streamed female artists in Spotify history
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the only Colombian artist to have reached No. 1 in the US, Latin America and Europe
Today, Shakira remains one of the most influential artists in the world — a performer who has managed to fuse Latin American culture, global pop music, Middle Eastern aesthetics and her own unmistakable style. Her work continues to inspire musicians of different generations, and her songs bring together millions of listeners on every continent. As an artist, dancer, songwriter, philanthropist and cultural symbol of her country, Shakira has long surpassed the status of a simple pop star. She has become a global phenomenon whose impact on music and society will be felt for many years to come.
