Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia. She is the only child of William Mebarak Chadid, of Lebanese descent, and Nidia Ripoll Torrado, who is Colombian with Spanish roots. Her multicultural upbringing profoundly influenced her music and identity. Growing up, Shakira showed an early passion for poetry and music, often entertaining her family with belly dances and songs. Her first poem, written at the age of four, hinted at her artistic potentiaL.
By the time she was seven, Shakira had already asked for a typewriter to compose poems, many of which eventually turned into songs. Influenced by Arabic music and her father’s heritage, she developed her signature style of blending Latin rhythms with Middle Eastern sounds. This unique fusion set the foundation for her global music career.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak EARLY LIFE
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia. She is the only child of William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia Ripoll Torrado. She is of both Spanish and Lebanese heritage. Her father, William, was born in New York City to a family from Lebanon. When he was five, his family relocated to Colombia. Her father’s previous marriage produced eight older half-siblings. Shakira spent a large portion of her early years in Barranquilla, a city on Colombia’s northern Caribbean coast.
At age four, Shakira composed her first poem, “La Rosa de Cristal” (‘The Crystal Rose’). A typewriter was requested by her as a Christmas present since she had been fascinated by her father’s typewriter stories as a child. She has been writing poetry since she received the typewriter when she was seven. Eventually, these poems became songs. Her father, who wore dark glasses for years to conceal his grief, served as the inspiration for Shakira’s first song, “Tus gafas oscuras” (‘Your dark glasses’), which she wrote at the age of eight after her older half-brother died in a motorcycle accident when she was two years old.
Shakira first heard the doumbek, a traditional drum used in Middle Eastern music that usually accompanied belly dancing, when she was four years old, thanks to her father’s visit to a nearby Middle Eastern restaurant. She began dancing on the table, and the experience convinced her that she wanted to be a performer. Singing was adored by her for her classmates, instructors, and even the nuns at her Catholic school; however, in second grade, she was rejected from the school chorus due to her high vibrato. The music teacher informed her that she sounded “like a goat.” To instill gratitude in Shakira for her upbringing, her father took her to a nearby park to meet the orphans who lived there. The photos lingered with her, and she promised herself, “When I become a famous artist, I’ll help these kids.”
Shakira’s early fascination with poetry, dance, and guitar-playing influenced her distinct style. Several events in Barranquilla were attended by Shakira between the ages of ten and thirteen, leading to her gaining a local reputation. Around this time, Monica Ariza, a local theater producer, was impressed by her and made an effort to support her career. In 1990, a record contract with Sony Music Colombia was signed by Shakira, laying the foundation for her musical career.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak’s CAREER BEGINNING
Shakira displayed a talent for music from an early age, writing her first song at just eight years old. Despite setbacks with her initial albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), her career took a transformative turn with the release of Pies Descalzos in 1995, featuring hits that gained her fame across Latin America. Her 2001 English-language album, Laundry Service, marked her international breakthrough with tracks like “Whenever, Wherever”
Shakira Isabel Mebarak’s AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENT
Shakira has won various accolades and has been acknowledged for her contributions. She has won 15 Latin Grammy Awards, which is the second-highest number for a female performer, and three Grammy Awards. Shakira is one of the best-selling musicians in the world, having sold over 75 million records worldwide. According to Billboard, she had already sold 10 million albums in Latin America by the time she released Laundry Service in 2001. She is the female artist with the most best-selling Latin albums in the United States, with three of her albums ranking among the top Latin albums in the country: Fijación Oral, Vol. 1 (8th), Dónde Están los Ladrones? (9th), and Pies Descalzos (23rd).
She Wolf topped the Top 10 Latino downloads, and in 2010, Nokia reported that Shakira’s music had been downloaded more in the previous year than any other Latino artist in the previous five years. Of the ‘Online Video’s Most Viral Artists of 2010,’ she came in at number five with 404,118,932 views. Shakira received awards in 2011, including the Harvard Foundation’s Cultural Rhythms Artist of the Year and the Latin Grammys’ Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year.
Shakira made history in 2014 when she performed three times at the FIFA World Cup. Shakira became the most streamed Latin musician ever in 2018 when she was listed among the top 10 female artists of the decade on Spotify. Shakira became the first female artist to have four songs from separate decades reach 100 million Spotify plays in 2020. She also became the only Latin artist and the only artist with Spanish songs to reach this milestone, ranking third overall after Eminem and Michael Jackson. She became the artist with the most videos with over 100 million views that same year, breaking the Vevo Certified Awards record and setting it at 37.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak LEGACY AND IMPACT
Known as the “Queen of Latin Music” due to her successful globalization, Shakira is a well-known personality in the Latin music entertainment industry. The New York Times dubbed her the “Titan of Latin Pop” because of her distinct and prominent role in Latin music. Numerous musicians have acknowledged Shakira’s influence, including Christina Aguilera, Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Christina, Justin Bieber, Cardi B, Ed Sheeran, Anitta, Ozuna, Maluma, and numerous others.
Fortune named her one of the “World’s Greatest Leaders” of 2017, demonstrating how her impact has grown beyond pop culture to become a sociopolitical influencer. Shakira’s influence on Colombia’s social transformation, particularly in the field of education, and her capacity to address this topic with global leaders like Gordon Brown and Barack Obama have been extensively covered by The Guardian. In a similar vein, The Independent has called Shakira “living proof that pop and politics mix” and added that she has “the ears of the global political elite” thanks to her influence and hard work.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak‘s PERSONAL LIFE
Beyond her hectic work schedule, Shakira established the Pies Descalzos Foundation to support high-quality education for youngsters in her home country of Colombia. In 2010, the United Nations International Labor Organization recognized her humanitarian work and named her a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Spanish soccer player Gerard Piqué is Shakira’s partner. On January 22, 2013, the couple welcomed their first child together. Milan is the name they gave their son. The couple revealed she was pregnant once more in August 2014. On January 29, 2015, Sasha, their second son, was born.
Antonio de la Rua, the son of former Argentine President Fernando de la Rua, was Shakira’s prior lover. De la Rua made news in April 2013 when he filed a $250 million lawsuit against the Latin singer, alleging that he was involved in the creation of the “Shakira brand” and several of his ex’s popular songs.
CONCLUSION
Shakira’s work and life are evidence of her skill, tenacity, and dedication to helping others. Millions are inspired by her music and charitable endeavors, and her legacy keeps expanding. Shakira is still one of the most well-known and adored performers in the world because of her distinctive vocals, amazing dancing skills, and commitment to social causes. Her tale is one of skill, passion, and an unwavering determination to change the world—both on and off the stage.
