Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (born February 2, 1977) is a Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer. Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, she began writing songs as a child and signed with Sony Music Colombia while still a teenager. Her first albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), attracted limited commercial attention, but they established the young artist as an ambitious songwriter with a distinctive voice and an interest in combining Latin pop, rock, dance music, and Middle Eastern influences.
Shakira's breakthrough came with Pies Descalzos (1995). Written largely by Shakira, the album produced a series of successful singles, including "Estoy Aqui," "Antologia," and "Un Poco de Amor," and made her a major star throughout Latin America. She consolidated that success with Donde Estan los Ladrones? (1998), an album noted for its direct songwriting, wide-ranging arrangements, and confident mixture of rock and Latin styles. Songs such as "Ciega, Sordomuda," "Inevitable," and "Ojos Asi" also helped establish the visual language of her early music videos, which emphasized expressive choreography, dramatic styling, and Shakira's unusual stage presence.
Her international crossover began with Laundry Service (2001), her first major English-language album. The single "Whenever, Wherever" became a worldwide hit, followed by "Underneath Your Clothes" and "Objection (Tango)." Rather than abandoning her Latin identity, Shakira used the album to present a bilingual pop sound that incorporated rock guitars, dance rhythms, and elements of traditional music. The success of Laundry Service turned her into one of the most visible Latin artists in the English-speaking market.
In 2005, she released two connected albums: the Spanish-language Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1 and the English-language Oral Fixation, Vol. 2. The former earned a Grammy Award, while the latter generated "Hips Don't Lie," a collaboration with Wyclef Jean that became one of the biggest singles of the decade. Her later albums explored different directions. She Wolf (2009) moved toward electronic pop, while Sale el Sol (2010) returned to a more overtly Latin and rock-influenced approach. In 2010, she also recorded "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," the official song of the FIFA World Cup, whose video combined contemporary pop performance with African-inspired dance and imagery.
Shakira continued to work across languages and genres on Shakira. (2014) and El Dorado (2017). The latter included "Chantaje" with Maluma and "La Bicicleta" with Carlos Vives, reflecting the growing importance of reggaeton and contemporary Latin pop. In 2020, Shakira shared the Super Bowl LIV halftime show with Jennifer Lopez, a highly visible celebration of Latin music and performance.
After a period dominated by singles and collaborations, Shakira returned with Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran (2024). The album brought together pop, reggaeton, bachata, and regional Latin influences, and included collaborations with Bizarrap, Karol G, Cardi B, and others. Its success earned Shakira another Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album in 2025. Across more than three decades, her career has been defined by reinvention, bilingual songwriting, visually inventive performances, and an ability to connect Latin American musical traditions with global pop.