Shakira at a glance: headline and key facts

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, known worldwide as Shakira, is a Colombian singer, voice actress and performer born in Barranquilla on February 2, 1977. She has built a career that spans Spanish-language pop, English-language crossover records, soundtrack anthems and animated film roles. Her best-known songs include Whenever, Wherever and Waka Waka, the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. She is also known for her long relationship with footballer Gerard Piqué and for her humanitarian work on behalf of children in Colombia and across Latin America.

Key facts at a glance

• Full name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll.
• Born: February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia.
• Profession: Singer, voice actress and performer.
• Early contract: Signed by Sony for three albums after an audition and demo.
• Breakthrough album:Pies Descalzos in 1996, featuring Estoy Aqui.
• Global crossover:Laundry Service and the English-language market.
• World Cup anthem:Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) in 2010 with Freshlyground.
• Film role: Gazelle in Zootopie in 2016.
• Humanitarian work:Pies Descalzos foundation and ALAS.

Early life, competitions and a three-album contract

Shakira began composing songs at the age of eight. She quickly entered various competitions and television talent shows, where she was noticed by producer Monica Ariza. Ariza secured an audition for her in front of Ciro Varga, who was impressed and passed her demo to an artistic producer at Sony. After hearing her, Sony offered a contract for three albums. The first two records, Magia in 1991 and Peligro in 1993, were commercial failures, although they helped her build a small reputation in Colombia. Sony made clear that the third album would be decisive for their continued collaboration.

Breakthrough with Pies Descalzos

Aware that her career could end quickly, Shakira took time with her third album. She returned to her studies and appeared in the series El Oasis from 1994. In parallel, she worked on Pies Descalzos, which was ready in 1996 and included the single Estoy Aqui. The song sold more than five million copies and turned Shakira into a star in Latin America and Spain. The album earned her three Billboard Latin Music Awards, including album of the year and revelation of the year. In 1998, her fourth album, Donde Estan Los Ladrones, confirmed her new status. It sold more than eight million copies and brought her two Latin Grammy Awards.

International crossover and English-language success

Still eager to reach a global audience, Shakira moved toward an English-language album. She worked with major figures including Gloria and Emilio Estefan, who translated Ojos Asi, a standout track from her third album, into Eyes Like Yours. She then wrote an English-language album, Laundry Service, which blended the mixed cultural influences that have become part of her sound. The crossover helped establish her as an international pop star and expanded her audience beyond Spanish-speaking markets.

Return, tour and film music

In 2005, Shakira returned with the double album Fijacion Oral / Oral Fixation. The first part was in Spanish and the second in English, and the two volumes were released six months apart. In 2007, she captured her tour in the Oral Fixation Tour Blu-Ray and DVD. That same period, she sang two songs for the film L'amour aux temps du choléra, adapted from the novel by her longtime friend Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

She Wolf and a changing sound

Two years later, Shakira returned with She Wolf. The album marked an artistic turning point, mixing electropop, jazz and R'n'B. Its jazz influences are especially audible in her duet with Wyclef Jean, Spy. The record showed her willingness to experiment with new production styles while keeping the rhythmic and vocal identity that had made her famous.

Waka Waka and Sale el Sol

In 2010, Shakira reached another career milestone when she was chosen to perform Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) with the South African group Freshlyground. The song served as the official anthem of the FIFA World Cup. That year, she also released her ninth studio album, Sale el Sol, which combined English and Spanish and included the hits Waka Waka and Loca.

Humanitarian commitments

Shakira has also been deeply involved in humanitarian work. At 17, she created an association for disadvantaged Colombian children called Pies Descalzos. In 2006, the United Nations paid tribute to her action, and she founded a new organization, ALAS, to support access to education for disadvantaged children in Latin America. In 2010, she launched a financing program for children's development in Latin America in collaboration with the World Bank. Her philanthropic profile has become as recognizable as her music, particularly in campaigns focused on education and early childhood.

Private life and public attention

In her private life, Shakira shared 11 years with Antonio de la Rua, the son of the former Argentine president. At the beginning of 2011, she announced their separation. She soon found love again with footballer Gerard Piqué, whom she had met the previous summer in South Africa during the FIFA World Cup. The relationship was quickly reported by tabloids around the world, and the couple made it official in March 2011. In 2012, Shakira announced that she was pregnant. Their son, Milan, was born on January 22, 2013.

Zootopie and voice acting

Shakira's filmography includes a 2016 role in Zootopie, where she played Gazelle. The role extended her public image into animation and introduced her to family audiences. Her character became a popstar figure within the film's world, and the association between Shakira and Gazelle continued in later coverage.

Recent news and Zootopia 2

Recent updates have focused on Shakira and Gazelle announcing their return in Zootopia 2. The Colombian singer is set to return as the popstar of the Zootopia world. Photos of Shakira and her animated double also drew attention around the Super Bowl, when she brought back her Zootopie look and set social media alight. Other coverage has highlighted the characters of Zootopie and their voice actors, as well as a broader list of stars, including Gisele Bundchen, Shakira and Olivia Munn, who have been in relationships with athletes. The latest news keeps Shakira connected to both her music career and her animated role.

Source:Premiere.fr News