Shakira enchanted the whole world with her extraordinary voice – and her unique swing of the hips!
But did you know that the Colombian beauty also has Lebanese roots?
Read all about Shakira’s career and personal life!
Characteristics
Shakira’s career
Shakira grew up in Colombia. Her father is a native New Yorker of Lebanese descent. On her mother’s side, her roots are in Spain. She has eight half-siblings from her father’s previous relationships.
Inspired by her father, who wrote short stories, Shakira was writing poetry from the age of four. Poems became songs. Shakira discovered belly dancing when her father took her to a Lebanese restaurant. Her famous hip swing was born. The rest is history…
At the age of 13, Shakira recorded her first album, which flopped. But she managed to build an audience. It wasn’t until 1995 that she made her big breakthrough in Latin America with the album Pies Descalzos (Barefoot). In 1997 her first international tour and several awards for her music followed.
Shakira also enchants live with her voice
Afterwards: A dream came true. Shakira was discovered by Emilio Estan Junior, THE Latin star-maker and husband of legendary singer Gloria Estefan. The album he produced, “Dónde Están los Ladrones?” (German: “Where are the thieves?”) was nominated for a Grammy.
But even the gigantic Latin American market was too small for the size of Shakira’s talent. The transition began in 2001: a plan of many Latino stars that rarely succeeds. But with the song “Whenever, Wherever” it worked. Shakira conquered the charts worldwide.
From 2005, Shakira’s career went uphill:
- “Hips Don’t Lie” became her biggest hit of all time,
- she performed in the final of the World Cup in soccer in Germany,
- “Beautiful Liar” with Beyonce showed her RnB side,
- she released the album “She Wolf” in 2009
- In 2010 her hit “Waka Waka – This time for Africa” was released, which is still the most successful World Cup song of all time.
Shakira shows off her famous hip swing on stage at the Radio Music Awards (2001).
“Can’t Remember to Forget You” with Rihanna in 2014 was her last English language song for the time being. After that, Shakira turned to the Latin American market with Spanish-language songs like “Chantaje” and “La Bicicleta”. In 2020 she joined JLo in a spectacular Super Bowl halftime show.
Shakira has been under investigation for possible tax evasion since 2017. In 2022, Shakira announced that she opposes a potential deal with the Spanish government and will prove her innocence. Tricky, because you face eight years in prison!
Shakira private
Shakira dated Antonio de la Rúa, son of Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa, from 2000 to 2010.
In 2010, Shakira met FC Barcelona player Gerard Piqué while filming the video for her World Cup song “Waka Waka”. They quickly became a couple. They have two sons together, Milan and Sasha. The couple never married: Shakira didn’t feel like doing the paperwork! Nevertheless, the singer spent a lot of time in Barcelona with her family.
Shakira and her ex-husband Gerard Piqué at the final match of the Spanish “King’s Cup” (2015)
But in 2022 the shock came: the couple separated! The unofficial reason: Gerard Piqué cheated on the singer.
Since then, rumor has it that hot actor Henry Cavill piqued Shakira’s interest…
Shakira’s greatest hits
| Year | song title |
|---|---|
| 2022 | Monotonia |
| 2016 | Chantaje |
| 2016 | La Bicicleta |
| 2014 | Can’t Remember to Forget You |
| 2011 | Rabiosa |
| 2010 | location |
| 2010 | waka waka |
| 2009 | she wolf |
| 2006 | Hips Don’t Lie |
| 2005 | La Tortura |
| 2002 | Whenever, Wherever |
