Verified biography · current role
Shakira Biography
Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, producer, dancer and philanthropist whose career helped make Spanish-language pop a durable global force. Born in Barranquilla to a Colombian mother and Lebanese-Colombian father, she wrote songs from childhood, signed with Sony Music Colombia at 13 and endured two commercially unsuccessful albums before the guitar-led Pies Descalzos established her across Latin America. Dónde Están los Ladrones? and MTV Unplugged deepened her reputation as a confessional writer and rock performer; Laundry Service then carried her into English-language pop without abandoning the Latin American and Middle Eastern sounds central to her work. Her catalogue spans Whenever, Wherever, La Tortura, Hips Don't Lie, She Wolf, Waka Waka, Chantaje, the record-setting BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53 and the Grammy-winning album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. She has also voiced Gazelle in Disney's Zootopia films, written a Dora the Explorer children's book and performed at multiple FIFA World Cups. Away from music, she founded Fundación Pies Descalzos and has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003, making access to education a parallel, decades-long body of work. In 2025–26, the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour became a career-spanning stadium production; in 2026 she released Dai Dai with Burna Boy, returned to the World Cup stage, received her first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination and reunited with Maluma for the September single Agua.
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About Shakira
Full name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Shakira is a Colombian singer, songwriter, producer, dancer and philanthropist whose career helped make Spanish-language pop a durable global force. Born in Barranquilla to a Colombian mother and Lebanese-Colombian father, she wrote songs from childhood, signed with Sony Music Colombia at 13 and endured two commercially unsuccessful albums before the guitar-led Pies Descalzos established her across Latin America. Dónde Están los Ladrones? and MTV Unplugged deepened her reputation as a confessional writer and rock performer; Laundry Service then carried her into English-language pop without abandoning the Latin American and Middle Eastern sounds central to her work. Her catalogue spans Whenever, Wherever, La Tortura, Hips Don't Lie, She Wolf, Waka Waka, Chantaje, the record-setting BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53 and the Grammy-winning album Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran. She has also voiced Gazelle in Disney's Zootopia films, written a Dora the Explorer children's book and performed at multiple FIFA World Cups. Away from music, she founded Fundación Pies Descalzos and has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003, making access to education a parallel, decades-long body of work. In 2025–26, the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour became a career-spanning stadium production; in 2026 she released Dai Dai with Burna Boy, returned to the World Cup stage, received her first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination and reunited with Maluma for the September single Agua.
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Questions about Shakira
What is Shakira best known for?
She is best known as a Colombian singer-songwriter whose bilingual career includes Whenever, Wherever, La Tortura, Hips Don't Lie, Waka Waka, Chantaje and BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53, as well as the albums Pies Descalzos, Dónde Están los Ladrones?, Laundry Service and Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.
Sources: Recording Academy · Rolling Stone Canada
Where was Shakira born?
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 2, 1977.
Sources: Recording Academy
How many Grammys has Shakira won?
The Recording Academy lists four Grammy wins from seven nominations through the 2025 awards.
Sources: Recording Academy
How many Latin Grammys has Shakira won?
The Latin Recording Academy lists 15 wins from 37 nominations through the 26th Latin Grammy Awards.
Sources: The Latin Recording Academy
What did Shakira do in 2026?
She continued the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour, released Dai Dai with Burna Boy for the World Cup cycle, reunited with Maluma for Agua and received her first Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination.
Sources: Shakira · Vogue · Sony Music Japan · Associated Press
Is Shakira in a relationship?
In May 2026 Shakira said there was no room in her life for romance. No current partner was publicly confirmed in the reliable sources reviewed through September 26, 2026.
Sources: The Standard / PA
Does Shakira have children?
Yes. She has two sons with her former partner Gerard Piqué; their 2022 separation statement identified their children's wellbeing as their highest priority.
Sources: Reuters
Has Shakira written a book?
Yes. Scholastic credits her as the author of the children's picture book Dora: World School Day Adventure.
Sources: Scholastic
What charity did Shakira found?
She founded Fundación Pies Descalzos, an organisation focused on quality public education in Colombia, and she has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003.
Sources: Fundación Pies Descalzos · UNICEF
What fragrance does Shakira wear?
In a 2012 launch interview she said she was wearing Elixir, her own branded fragrance. FameShelf treats that as dated commercial self-use, not an independent recommendation or evidence of her current signature scent.
Sources: Allure