Shakira's Biography
Shakira is a legendary Colombian singer and one of the most successful Latin artists on the global pop scene. Shakira's music features a distinctive style – blending pop-rock, Latin, and folk – while her performances are complete spectacles featuring Middle Eastern dances and unforgettable staging.
Childhood
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (the singer's full name) was born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia. She's the only child of Nidia Ripoll and William Mebarak, though she has eight half-siblings on her father's side. Her father was of Lebanese descent – his ancestors had moved to New York – while her mother had Spanish and Italian roots.


Interestingly, Shakira initially sang in the school choir but was soon kicked out because a teacher said her voice sounded like a goat's bleat.
Career Start
At just fourteen years old, the charming and talented Colombian shot to fame with her debut album – first in her hometown, then nationwide. In 1993, Shakira represented Colombia at the Chilean music festival and took third place with her own song "Eres" ("You Are").
The Rise of a Musical Career
In fall 1996, working with a modest budget, Shakira released her third studio album "Pies Descalzos" ("Bare Feet"). This time, she struck gold - massive sales, devoted fans, and her first world tour.
In 2005, Shakira dropped the Spanish album "Fijación Oral Vol. 1", with singles that primarily dominated radio play across Spanish-speaking countries. That same year, she released the English counterpart "Oral Fixation Vol. 2" featuring the singles "Hips Don't Lie" and "Illegal", which became massive hits. The singer went on a world tour and gave 150 concerts in 37 countries.


Shakira's Personal Life
In 1997, news broke about singer Shakira's romance with popular actor Osvaldo Ríos. The couple kept their romance private, but everyone knew about their relationship. However, the romance didn't last long - the couple broke up after 8 months.In 2000, Shakira began a relationship with the son of Argentine President Fernando de la Rúa, Antonio. A year later, Antonio proposed to the singer. The couple planned to get married, but Shakira denied these rumors.

Shakira on her breakup with AntonioFor almost 11 years we passionately loved each other... These were the most beautiful years of our lives... Meanwhile, since August 2010 our romantic relationship was temporarily interrupted by mutual agreement, although we continued to work together, keeping what happened a secret.


Shakira Now
Alongside her high-profile divorce from Piqué, Shakira faced problems due to tax evasion. The Spanish court ruled that between 2012 and 2014, the singer avoided paying taxes six times. According to the investigation, during this period, Shakira lived in Barcelona for at least 183 days, making her a tax resident. Shakira insisted that she lived in the Bahamas. In November 2023, the court gave her a 3-year suspended sentence and a fine of 7.3 million euros, but she managed to avoid even this punishment – Shakira paid 432,000 euros to settle the case.