Shakira

Singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer Shakira - born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia – is one of the few Colombians ever to become an international pop star. Her sexy image and hypnotic dance music owes much to her poor upbringing in Barranquilla, where she was heavily influenced by Arabic music and exotic dancing in local restaurants. Of Lebanese, Italian, and Catalan descent, she had a reputation at school as a belly dancer, and her gift for entertaining soon became apparent when she was discovered by local theater producer Monica Ariza, who got her signed to Columbia. Shakira was just 14 years old when she released her first album Magia in 1991 and starred in Colombian TV soap opera El Oasis. Her 1995 album Pies Descalsoz made her a Latin superstar and her first English-language album Laundry Service - featuring the hit single “Whenever Wherever” - in 2001 made her Latin pop's biggest crossover star since Jennifer Lopez. Her stardom was confirmed by the single “Hips Don't Lie” in 2006, one of the biggest dance hits of the decade. After being named the fourth highest earning female in the music industry, Shakira released her ninth studio album Sale el Sol, winning Best Female Pop Vocal Album at the Latin Grammy Awards. After touring with her new material, it was announced that she would become a judge on the TV talent show The Voice alongside Usher, Blake Shelton, and Adam Levine. After a four-year layoff – which was instigated by her pregnancy – Shakira released her self-titled album in 2014. Her 11th album, El Dorado, was issued in 2017 and included the hits “Chantaje” and “Me Enamoré”. In July 2021, Shakira returned to the charts with the release of the single “Don’t Wait Up”.

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