If you think that juggling work and home life is a struggle, you should try being Shakira, who this year has not only had a baby, and released a number one single, she has also been named one of the most influential women in the world by Forbes.
Raised in Baranquilla, North Columbia, Shakira began performing at school. After writing her first song at the young age of 8 and being signed to her first record label at just 13, Shakira has gone on to win 2 Grammy awards, 7 Latin Grammy awards, 5 MTV music awards and 7 Billboard music awards – that’s certainly something for a women who has also had two children and a long term relationship with a professional footballer.
This isn’t the first time Shakira has juggled her multitude of talents. Throughout her career she has not only been a singer, but also a songwriter, record producer, choreographer and model. Her all-round personality means that she has not only written the majority of her songs but also created the dances in many of her music videos, including the video for the hit single Waka Waka which had over 813 million views and became the 9th most watched video on You Tube ever.
Although Shakira’s first two studio albums were not a hit, her album Pies Descalzos immediately gave her prominence in the Latin American market. With the success of her albums, such as Dónde Están los Ladrones, she became a superstar in the Spanish-language market, known for her strong vocals and incredible hip-shaking, belly dance moves.
In 1997 Shakira made the decision to move herself and her family to Miami where she began to learn English. In 2001 her debut English language album Laundry Service reached no.3 on the charts, selling more than 200,000 copies in the first week of release. Her album was full of major hits such as Wherever, Whenever which became her breakthrough hit in the USA and after selling 10 million copies worldwide, it became the biggest hit of 2001. I’m sure that everybody can remember trying to shake their hips in the living room when that one came on the radio, she became an overnight sensation with women wanting to be her and men wanting to be with her!!
Shakira soon became the highest selling Columbian artist of all time, and her records such as Hips Don’t Lie began to top the charts gaining her several number ones.
She also began collaborating with massive US artists such as Beyoncé Knowles; their song Beautiful Liar was released in 2007 and quickly became a number one in several European countries including France, Germany, Italy and the U.K.
By 2012 her US album sales alone had reached over 10 million. Shakira had created a worldwide phenomenon, which combined Latino, Arabic and hip-hop music together and reached out to such a variety of people that she was adored worldwide.
Her multitude of talents was broadened again when she was confirmed a Star Judge on popular NBC show The Voice, the fourth series aired on March 25th 2013, just months after Shakira had given birth to her first child! Her personality and likeability definitely won over the hearts of the nation and she rapidly returned for the 6th series after taking a year off to spend time with her son and hubby.
Shakira’s first son, with professional Spanish football player Gerard Pique, was born January 22nd 2013. Having been with the Barcelona F.C Centre-back since spring 2010 she believed it was time to begin her own family.
Although it hasn’t been all fun and games in Shakira’s personal life! Shakira previously dated Antonio de la Rua, son of former Argentine President Fernando de la Rua. In April 2013, de la Rua made headlines when he sued the Latin songstress for $100 million, charging that he had helped create some of his ex’s hit songs as well as the “Shakira brand.” Fortunately for the I’m A Gypsy singer the superior court dismissed the lawsuit and she was not made to give La Rua any part of her income.
Even with their net worth of 220 million dollars Shakira doesn’t let her WAG status or fame get to her head. In 2010 the United Nations Labour Organisation honoured her for her philanthropic efforts and she became a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.
Along with these charity efforts she also created the Pies Descalzos foundation, named after her first hit album. The foundation was set up to help children in her native country, Colombia, to receive a quality education. Her charity work was also emphasised when she threw her world baby showers in the upcoming weeks to her second son´s births. Shakira organised and ran the event asking for gifts to be donated to babies that were in need all over the world. She claimed that she hopes her charity efforts will make her sons proud!
It is clear that Shakira is no longer just a singer, her talents vary so far and wide that she has become an exciting role model for younger generations.
Their first Virtual Baby Shower in 2013 was a huge success; over 80,000 children were vaccinated against polio, nearly four tons of therapeutic food helped children suffering from malnutrition, plus around 1,000 anti-malaria bed nets and nearly 200,000 oral rehydration salts sachets were distributed.
It is this type of behavior that makes Shakira a world icon!
AGE: 38
STARSIGN: Aquarius
HEIGHT: 5”2
FAVOURITE FOOD: Seafood
CRAZY FACT: Her husband and her share the same birthday but she is 10 years his senior.
February 2nd 1977– Born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
1990– Shakira signed her first record deal
1996– Her first album Pies Descalzos, meaning bare feet, sold more than 3 million copies.
1997– Shakira moved to Miami to increase her American fan-base.
1998– Her follow-up record, Dónde Están Los Ladrones , which translates as Where Are The Thieves, reached the top of Billboard’s Latin charts.
2000– She won her first Grammy award for Shakira: MTV Unplugged.
2001– Shakira released her first English- Language album called Laundry Service
2005– Her album Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 garnered Shakira her second Grammy, this time for best Latin rock/alternative album.
2009– Shakira released the album, She Wolf, which went platinum in 2010.
2010– Her song Waka Waka became the theme tune for the FIFA world cup.
2010– The United Nations’ International Labor Organisation honoured her for her philanthropic efforts
2012– Her worldwide sales hit over 70 million.
2013– She had her first son, Milan, January 22nd with long-term boyfriend Gerard Pique.
2014– She was listed 58th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.
2015– Shakira gave birth to her second son, Tonino, on January 29th.
