Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll didn’t just appear on the global music scene – she danced, sang, and shook her way into it with a style all her own. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1977, Shakira started singing and dancing as a child. But although her early albums in Colombia hinted at her talent, it wasn’t until she released “Laundry Service” in 2001 that the rest of the world truly took notice. Suddenly, with “Whenever, Wherever” on the radio, her unmistakable voice and electrifying belly-dance moves became instantly recognizable.
Shakira’s path wasn’t always a straight shot to superstardom. She put in years of work in Latin America, constantly evolving her sound and writing her own lyrics – sometimes even producing her tracks – while refusing to be boxed in. Crossing over into English-language pop was a risk, but one that paid off, launching her as a global icon.
But there’s another side to Shakira that sometimes gets overshadowed by her chart-topping hits. Through her Barefoot Foundation (Fundación Pies Descalzos), she’s dedicated herself to building schools and supporting education in Colombia, Haiti, and South Africa. This work doesn’t always make headlines, but it’s changed thousands of children’s lives – and speaks volumes about who she is offstage.
Behind the Public Persona
Of course, for every headline about her music, there’s another about her personal life. For over a decade, Shakira’s relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué kept her in the public eye. The two met during the 2010 World Cup – where she performed “Waka Waka” – and their romance became a media obsession. After 11 years together and two sons, Milan and Sasha, they announced their split in 2022.
The breakup went viral, especially after Shakira released “BZRP Music Sessions #53” with Argentine producer Bizarrap. With lyrics that seemed to throw shade at Piqué and his new girlfriend, the song smashed YouTube records and proved Shakira isn’t shy about turning heartbreak into art.
Since the split, Shakira has moved from Barcelona back to Miami – a city where she’d lived long before soccer and tabloids. She’s kept her private life relatively low-key. Gossip sites have tried to link her romantically to everyone from F1 star Lewis Hamilton (after they chatted at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix) to NBA player Jimmy Butler, and even to British actor Lucien Laviscount, who starred in her “Puntería” video. But Shakira has kept quiet, focusing on her sons and her music.
She once told Rolling Stone, “My music is honest, but that doesn’t mean I need to detail every aspect of my personal life.” Unlike many celebrities, she’s steered clear of turning relationships into publicity.
What does stand out is how Shakira pours her real experiences, good and bad, into her songs – whether it’s “Antología” from her early days or more recent hits like “TQG” with Karol G. Each track is another chapter in her ongoing story.
At 47, Shakira isn’t chasing anyone else’s idea of what her life should look like. Her 2023 collab with Bizarrap marked her first Billboard Hot 100 hit in over a decade – no small feat in a tough industry, especially as a woman past 40. On social media, she invites fans into her world: early mornings with her sons, surfing in Miami, behind-the-scenes glimpses from the studio.
Past Relationships
Lucien Laviscount
Drake
Jimmy Butler
Lewis Hamilton
Rihanna
Gerard Piqué
Antonio De la Rua
Beyoncé
After decades in the spotlight, Shakira is still finding new ways to express herself, constantly reinventing her sound, and – most impressively – never losing that unmistakable, authentic voice that first made the world stop and listen.