SHAKIRA

Born in Barranquilla, Colombia to parents of Columbian and Lebanese descent, Shakira Mebarak released her first album in Colombia at age 13 with her CD 'Magia,' or magic, which was produced under the watchful eyes of Miguel E. Cubillos and Pablo Tedeschi. After taking a break to go to school, she came out with her next album, 'Peligra,' or danger. Fancying herself a true "artista," Shakira has been dancing, writing and singing since age three and continues to write all of her own music. Shakira is perhaps best known for her landmark recording Pies Descalzos, a hybrid of rock, pop and Latin rhythms that sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide. Shakira blends American style pop-rock with traditional Latin rhythms, creating her own unique sound and forging new ground in the growing Latin music market in the United States. The song first released, Estoy Aqui, hit number one for weeks and permanently landed her in the Latin Divas category.

Shakira's career received a boost when she was named Latin Female Artist of the Year at the 1998 World Music Awards. Her fourth album, Donde Estan los Ladrones, reached the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Latin 50. At the 2000 Latin Grammy, two of her songs, 'Ojos Asi' and 'Octavo Dia' received awards thus further boosting her popularity in the United States. In fact, after the Grammy awards, record sells rose twenty percent in the United States. Her latest album, MTV Unplugged, was released in 1999. Recorded in Manhattans Ball Room, Shakira performed remixes as long as original versions of her songs we love. The CD hit number one for weeks and is still found on the top ten chart. Still even with all of her success, Shakira was not yet a household name in the USA.

She hopes to fix that with her next album that is expected to come out in November in the United States. It is being translated into English by Gloria Estefan and being marketed by her husband, Emilio. Also, in the near future, she plans to come out with a new album in Spanish she has been working on in Uruaguay with her 'novio,' the son of the president of Argentina. Regardless of the success she may find with future works, all she has contributed today and tomorrow will forever change Latin/Pop music. Although she is compared to Alanis Morrisette, she is one of a kind.

Quick Stats about Shakira
Real Name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Occupation: Singer/Songwriter/Actress
Date of Birth: February 2, 1977
Place of Birth: Barranquilla, Colombia
Ethnic Background: Columbian/Lebanese
Father: William Mebarak Chadid
Mother: Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado
Brothers: Alberto, Edward, Moises, Tonino
Sisters: Ana, Lucy, Patricia, Robin
Weight: 106 lbs
Height: 5' 2"
Tattoos: None
Current Relationships: Antonio de la Rúa
Strong Points: Discipline & Perfectionist

Fun Facts about Shakira
Her name is Arabic for "woman full of grace"
Sony/Colombia signed her to a record deal at age 13, recorded "Magia"
Released her 2nd album "Peligro" at age 15
"Donde Estan Los Ladrones?" reached Platinum in the following: 8x U.S. - 5x Argentina - 4x Central America - 3x Columbia/Chile - 2x Mexico & 1x Spain
Had an acting gig on the novela El Oasis, played Luisa María
The song "Ojos asi" has a verse in Arabic
Shakira Doesn't eat candy
Shakira doesn't drink alcohol or drink coffee
Shakira doesn't smoke
Shakira's favorite thing to paint is "fried eggs"
Shakira's father is originally from Lebanon

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