Shakira
Birthday: 2 February 1977, Barranquilla, Colombia
Birth Name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Height: 157 cm
Grammy-winning Latina pop singer Shakira was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, on February 2, 1977. Her father is a Lebanese American immigrant and her mother a native of Colombia of Italian and Spanish ...Show More
Writing in English was a major challenge. I didn't want other songwriters to write for me. I wanted Show more
Writing in English was a major challenge. I didn't want other songwriters to write for me. I wanted to preserve the spirit of my songs in Spanish. I am the same Shakira in English as I am in Spanish. Hide
In some moment, I came to fall into the claws of moralism. Something very typical for a Latin-Americ Show more
In some moment, I came to fall into the claws of moralism. Something very typical for a Latin-American woman, who has lived in a culture of repression. I thought I had all the answers, I was full of hasty judgments. Today, I feel more liberated and open. I'm more tolerant. I respect ideas different to mine. Moralism is a disease. It shouldn't be exactly related to religion, - but it is true that my view of religion has also changed lately. Hide
I think I look like a chipmunk.
I think I look like a chipmunk.
I remember the first time I saw the video "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I will never forget that day. I Show more
I remember the first time I saw the video "Smells Like Teen Spirit". I will never forget that day. I just wanted to see Kurt Cobain's face. I had a feeling he was very cute. But I couldn't see his face. When I finally did see him, he was even cuter than I imagined! Hide
Of course, I am trying to make my accent not bother anyone, but I am not going to drive myself crazy Show more
Of course, I am trying to make my accent not bother anyone, but I am not going to drive myself crazy trying to pretend I am an American girl when I am from Colombia. Hide
My belly dancing represents me - it's a trademark. I've tried to incorporate it in original ways in Show more
My belly dancing represents me - it's a trademark. I've tried to incorporate it in original ways in modern songs. But sometimes, it bugs me a bit that people resort to (saying) that I'm shaking my ass with a huge sexual charge, instead of recognizing it as a move that, yeah, it's loaded with sensuality, but it's also part of an artistic expression. Hide
I don't obsess on my flaws because I see my body as a whole. Besides, I think men appreciate confide Show more
I don't obsess on my flaws because I see my body as a whole. Besides, I think men appreciate confidence more than perfection. Hide
I was born close to the ocean and live close to it. I spent all my Sundays on the ocean, and to me i Show more
I was born close to the ocean and live close to it. I spent all my Sundays on the ocean, and to me it will always be a magical place. I can always find different memories in my head, but special moments were on the ocean or staring at the sea - falling in love, playing, or just talking to myself. It kind of seduces you. But lately I've been fearing it a little bit because of the sharks, the attacks, you know? But then again, they were there first. Hide
The cobra is deadly but mongoose can overcome it. We all have possibillity to defeat prejudiced and Show more
The cobra is deadly but mongoose can overcome it. We all have possibillity to defeat prejudiced and resentment in our lives. Fear is the thing that makes us attack, that makes us strike. We must overcome it. We must. Hide
For several years, I worried a lot about protecting an image, but today, I have understood that the Show more
For several years, I worried a lot about protecting an image, but today, I have understood that the image cannot be preconceived. Hide
The worst mistake of a woman is to go to the kitchen, because then she never gets out of there.
The worst mistake of a woman is to go to the kitchen, because then she never gets out of there.
A bed is still the first thing I look for when I have 20 free minutes. I still read a book if I have Show more
A bed is still the first thing I look for when I have 20 free minutes. I still read a book if I have a free hour, and go to a movie if I have four. Hide
When you fall in love, you prioritize everything. It's like cleaning up and putting things in place.
When you fall in love, you prioritize everything. It's like cleaning up and putting things in place.
I do feel that there is a difference between - especially the visual part - what I used to do in Lat Show more
I do feel that there is a difference between - especially the visual part - what I used to do in Latin America and what I do now. This album (Laundry Service) came out and all of a sudden I saw myself surrounded by 20 stylists, makeup artists, hairdressers, directors, assistant to the director, assistant to the assistant to the director. I try to be in control because some of your essence kind of gets a little hurt. That's why it's so important for me to do these live shows. On the stage, there's no tricks, there's no way to fool anybody, so you either like what you see or you hate it, that's it. It's just the bare truth. Hide
I love reading about history. Sometimes, I feel I was born in the wrong era. There was more creativi Show more
I love reading about history. Sometimes, I feel I was born in the wrong era. There was more creativity in the air when people were still discovering new worlds. Hide
I admire Madonna because she always did whatever she felt like doing. She went through some controve Show more
I admire Madonna because she always did whatever she felt like doing. She went through some controversial periods when people rejected her, but she kept on reinventing herself. Hide
I couldn't strip naked. Maybe when I'm 40, I will change my mind. Around 10 years ago, I couldn't im Show more
I couldn't strip naked. Maybe when I'm 40, I will change my mind. Around 10 years ago, I couldn't imagine putting on a skin-tight body suit and high heels and dancing in a golden cage, hanging upside down from the bars. Today, I'm saying I'll never show myself naked. Our opinions change all the time. Hide
People think I like to expose my body. But I don't. It's just because the dance moves require it.
People think I like to expose my body. But I don't. It's just because the dance moves require it.
I expect my beloved to be kind, generous, I expect him not to lie so I can look him straight in the Show more
I expect my beloved to be kind, generous, I expect him not to lie so I can look him straight in the eyes, and I expect him to fall in love with me 10 times a day. Hide
My celebrity arrived gradually, and this is why I am not too much shocked or am not traumatised. In Show more
My celebrity arrived gradually, and this is why I am not too much shocked or am not traumatised. In spite of that, I am always surprised when I see myself on television. Hide
Colombia is a country of victims, and not of murderers.
Colombia is a country of victims, and not of murderers.
Every single project, it doesn't matter how big it is or how small it is, we take it with the same i Show more
Every single project, it doesn't matter how big it is or how small it is, we take it with the same interest and the same enthusiasm, and we make the same effort. I feel the exact thing before I sing on Saturday Night Live (1975) as when I sang on a very small television show in Colombia. Before the first singing contest I ever participated in, I felt the same nervousness I feel now. So part of me gets bigger and keeps evolving, but at the end of the day, you end up feeling the same things. Hide
My brain, I believe, is the most beautiful part of my body.
My brain, I believe, is the most beautiful part of my body.
When I perform, I find myself exorcised of everything that keeps me trapped in my everyday life.
When I perform, I find myself exorcised of everything that keeps me trapped in my everyday life.
One of the ways I grew up was through the loss of people close to me. The person who was my closest Show more
One of the ways I grew up was through the loss of people close to me. The person who was my closest friend and who managed me for five years, Patricia Tellez, died suddenly from a blood clot. The other friend, a friend from Barranquilla, died from cancer and she was only 33. She left three children. Hide
Earlier I tried not to show my stomach, because I thought it wasn't perfect and I would have seemed Show more
Earlier I tried not to show my stomach, because I thought it wasn't perfect and I would have seemed fat. I would have died! But that does not bother me anymore. Like my dad says there is nothing more beautiful than some meat on the bones. Hide
You can laugh, but since I was a child, I knew that I was going to be a well-known singer-songwriter Show more
You can laugh, but since I was a child, I knew that I was going to be a well-known singer-songwriter; that was something I had no doubts about. It was almost like a prophecy. Hide
I am a pop star, but I also have an opinion. I grew up in a country that has existed under the whip Show more
I am a pop star, but I also have an opinion. I grew up in a country that has existed under the whip of violence for 40 years, so how can I not? You know in my country, a 5-year-old knows not only of Disney and Mickey Mouse but of guerrillas and paramilitaries. You grow up with that kind of awareness, of what the world is really like. To be political in my country doesn't mean you want to run for presidency, to be political simply means to have an opinion Hide
I love chocolate. I'm addicted to it. Do you know when I realized that? Shortly before we started sh Show more
I love chocolate. I'm addicted to it. Do you know when I realized that? Shortly before we started shooting the video for "She Wolf". I needed a whole month to get back into shape. I danced, worked out and had to stick to a strict diet - only fish, spinach and a specially-prepared dessert with tofu. For the first time in my life, I was dreaming of chocolate and cake and always woke up with tears in my eyes. Hide
I'm a believer. I try to be near God, because when I feel that there's a certain distance, everythin Show more
I'm a believer. I try to be near God, because when I feel that there's a certain distance, everything begins to look like a blur. It makes the road somewhat smoother. When I feel that I'm without God, I have to make an effort to drag my feet to keep on going. Hide
The worst frustration for a singer is choosing a career in making music and then not being able to m Show more
The worst frustration for a singer is choosing a career in making music and then not being able to make music because you're always giving interviews. Hide
In any woman's life, there's a moment when we stand in front of a mirror and we're not happy. It mig Show more
In any woman's life, there's a moment when we stand in front of a mirror and we're not happy. It might be when we're 32 and we think about what it will be like being 36, or when we're 36 we might think of being younger. We're never content with the way we are and the way we look. But if you start loving yourself the way you are, and accepting yourself the way you are, your outlook totally changes. Hide
I want to learn how to live in the present with my eyes open. Because, you know, we always go throug Show more
I want to learn how to live in the present with my eyes open. Because, you know, we always go through the present blindfolded with our hearts in the past and our minds in the future. And that way we never enjoy the here and now. Hide
I think, if you can prove the existence of God, it can only be proven through love. I even had lost Show more
I think, if you can prove the existence of God, it can only be proven through love. I even had lost my faith for a while... I started to think that there was no God. And suddenly, I meet Gerard [Piqué] and the sun comes out. Hide
I'm not a model for anyone and the truth is, I never even tried a hit of pot. I'm not saying that I' Show more
I'm not a model for anyone and the truth is, I never even tried a hit of pot. I'm not saying that I've never ever felt curious, but I feel that if I were doped up I would not even be able to smell, or eat, or breathe, or sing. And I don't want to start using crutches when I know that I can walk. Drug addiction is a loss of freedom. Hide
I always believed that women have rights and that there are some women that are intelligent enough t Show more
I always believed that women have rights and that there are some women that are intelligent enough to claim those rights. There are some others that are stupid enough not to. It is as cut-and dried as that. It doesn't matter if you are a woman or not; in this life, to earn your place you have to fight for it. Hide
I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. Show more
I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I'm not capable, I'm too cowardly for that. Hide
I certainly don't want to identify with Cinderella, she had a dream that lasted only until midnight. Show more
I certainly don't want to identify with Cinderella, she had a dream that lasted only until midnight. I want it to last until at least 3 a.m. Hide
Videos come definitely after the music has been created, but I have always felt, and especially toda Show more
Videos come definitely after the music has been created, but I have always felt, and especially today, that videos are vital in the album process. I think that we live in a very visual era and if you make a mistake with a video, those images will accompany the song forever. There is no way to divorce the image from the music once the video has been filmed and exposed. Hide
It's not easy to work with me, I recognize that. It's not easy if those people aren't perfectionisti Show more
It's not easy to work with me, I recognize that. It's not easy if those people aren't perfectionistic as as I am. Hide
I don't like the competition part of soccer. It's a war in short pants. I prefer art.
I don't like the competition part of soccer. It's a war in short pants. I prefer art.
I prefer an ugly truth to a pretty lie. If someone is telling me the truth that is when I will give Show more
I prefer an ugly truth to a pretty lie. If someone is telling me the truth that is when I will give my heart. Hide
I never went through an adolescence when kids become rebels and do drugs. I was always the good girl Show more
I never went through an adolescence when kids become rebels and do drugs. I was always the good girl. Hide
[on being the only girl on The Voice] Dealing with boys at work and being the only girl can be chall Show more
[on being the only girl on The Voice] Dealing with boys at work and being the only girl can be challenging. I have my insecurities, but I've learned I have to be a good sport. I have to be able to take certain jokes and not take them personally. There are jokes made almost every second of the day. I had to develop a tough hide. You know, the music industry is dominated by guys. I work with men 98 percent of the time-producers, arrangers, musicians, engineers. Hide
I guess there's many ways to become an enlightened human being, but I guess the shortest path is alw Show more
I guess there's many ways to become an enlightened human being, but I guess the shortest path is always through love. And the shortest path to becoming a better person is always through loving someone. If you don't know how to treat the ones that you love then how are you going to treat those that you don't know, or those who are your enemies? Hide
[on break-up with Antonio] It's very difficult to think that you're with someone that you know, and Show more
[on break-up with Antonio] It's very difficult to think that you're with someone that you know, and all of a sudden you don't know them: it turns out that they betray you. It's painful, but it's best to turn the page. Hide
I have learned that I am an adult already. And to grow with something is sometimes painful. And its Show more
I have learned that I am an adult already. And to grow with something is sometimes painful. And its great; I don't say it's a bad thing - but many things change, and many more responsibilities come, and you have more closure in your life, and more possibilities. It's just that it's not as pink as before, but its more interesting. Hide
Technology scares me. We live surrounded by a battalion of sounds, engaged in ostentatious displays Show more
Technology scares me. We live surrounded by a battalion of sounds, engaged in ostentatious displays of new recording techniques. But, to me, the fundamental essence of a song lies in the melody and the lyrics. Hide
Nationalism is cured by traveling
Nationalism is cured by traveling
I think in every artist's life, when, right after a performance, we get to feel a certain loneliness Show more
I think in every artist's life, when, right after a performance, we get to feel a certain loneliness and solitude. After receiving so much attention and love from your fans, suddenly everything stops. Hide
I think my dad is the only Arabic descendent who is an unsuccessful businessman.
I think my dad is the only Arabic descendent who is an unsuccessful businessman.
I'm lucky to have family around me. Otherwise, I'll be taking the risk of falling in love with mysel Show more
I'm lucky to have family around me. Otherwise, I'll be taking the risk of falling in love with myself. But there are always people close to me who I trust, who will scold me and pull my ears if I need it. Fame isolates people from reality. That happens to many artists, and I don't want it to happen to me. Hide
The leaders are lacking love, and love is lacking leaders.
The leaders are lacking love, and love is lacking leaders.
I had my first boyfriend when I was 12, and my parents knew about it. My dad was very jealous. I had Show more
I had my first boyfriend when I was 12, and my parents knew about it. My dad was very jealous. I had an older sister in medical school, and he would not let her wear tight jeans. Hide
[When asked if she told her boyfriend, Gerard Piqué, about the video concept of her song with Rihan Show more
[When asked if she told her boyfriend, Gerard Piqué, about the video concept of her song with Rihanna, "Can't Remember to Forget You"] I asked him if he agreed with everything and he agreed. I wanted to make sure because he's super-jealous. He's territorial. He wants to know everything is under control. Hide
[on death] I always tried not to touch that subject, because it would really give me existential anx Show more
[on death] I always tried not to touch that subject, because it would really give me existential anxiety. Death is not only related to the physical death of the body, it's also related to the death of relationships or feelings. Every day, I feel a little bit older, a little less alive, more alive with the possibility of being less alive, closer to death. Hide
The industry is a bit more visual oriented (more) towards something to the eyes than something to th Show more
The industry is a bit more visual oriented (more) towards something to the eyes than something to the ears, That's a bit of a contradiction. We can't forget that, at the end of the day, what really matters here is music. I must confess that sometimes I have been a victim of that. Hide
I've gone through everything with the paparazzi, where they are even hanging from the trees trying t Show more
I've gone through everything with the paparazzi, where they are even hanging from the trees trying to get a picture. But I have a wonderful relationship with the press. I don't feel mistreated. There is great communication between me and the media, and that makes me feel so lucky because I see how an artist can suffer. But I also live a life a journalist would find very boring. I've been dating the same guy for six years. I'm not a party animal, and you never see me shopping because I hate shopping. Hide
Shakira's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (209)
Shakira'S roles
Gazelle
Herself, Herself - Guest Performer
Herself - Guest Performer
