35 years of global fame

Shakira was born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia, to William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado. She grew up in a comfortable environment until her father went bankrupt when she was eight years old. By the age of four, she was already writing poems, which many fans believe contributed to the success of her music career.

At eight, Shakira began writing songs, and just five years later, she released her debut album, Magia. To kick off her music career, she attended various events around Barranquilla, gaining recognition for her singing and dancing. During this time, she met local theater producer Monica Ariza, who was impressed by her talent and convinced Sony Music Colombia executive Ciro Vargas to hold an audition for her.

Mackenzy Demard, A freshman, stated, “Shakira is my favorite artist of all time; she was my most listened-to artist on my Spotify Wrapped and is the reason I show so much love for the Hispanic community.”

When asked about Shakira, Mark, a junior, said, “I’m not really familiar with her, but I know how popular she is, and that takes mad talent. I even saw her perform at Super Bowl 54 back in 2020, so I have a lot of respect for her.”

Jordan Aciles, another freshman, added, “I don’t even listen to her, but my mom loves singing her songs in the car on the way to school.”

Shakira made a significant impact on Latin music with her breakthrough album, Laundry Service. Five years later, in 2006, she broke the record for the most played pop song in a week with “Hips Don’t Lie.” She also performed at the 2010 World Cup with the song “Waka Waka” and at the 2020 Super Bowl alongside Jennifer Lopez, which further increased her popularity worldwide. Additionally, Shakira has collaborated with UNICEF and is credited with helping to popularize Latin music on the international stage.

Currently, Shakira resides in Miami with her two children, Milan (13) and Sasha (10), and her significant other, Lucian Laviscount. She is not making music at the moment as she is supporting Gerard Piqué in his professional soccer career.

Written by Jordan Moore  | Graphic Designed by Jordan Moore 

Published February 2, 2026 | ePathfinder | Features