Shakira Biography

Singer / Songwriter

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Name at birth: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

Shakira is the Colombian singer/songwriter whose album Pies Descalzos (1995) spawned several hit singles, including "Estoy Aqui" and "Donde Estas Corazon." In 1998 she released Dónde Están Los Ladrones, a popular and critical success and the beginning of a close working relationship with producer Emilio Estefan and his wife Gloria. Mixing her South American background and Middle Eastern heritage with catchy pop tunes and made-for-MTV looks, Shakira rapidly became an international star and one of the top Latin recording artists of the 1990s. In 2001 she released her first album with English lyrics, Laundry Service, which included the hit "Whenever, Wherever." Her 2005 album Oral Fixation, Vol. 1 included the hit "Hips Don't Lie" and was named female Latin pop album of the year at the Latin Billboard Music Awards.

Extra credit: Shakira's fans call her "Shaki"... She is widely known as a spokesperson for Pepsi Cola... Some sources list her birthdate as 9 February rather than 2 February.

Other Latina stars include Thalia, Jennifer Lopez, Adriana Lima and Gisele Bundchen.

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