Shakira

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, known globally as Shakira, is a Colombian singer, songwriter, and global pop icon. With over 80 million records sold worldwide, she is recognized as one of the best-selling music artists of all time and the top-selling female Latin artist in history. Widely credited with opening the international market for Latin musicians, Shakira has seamlessly bridged cultural divides through her dynamic blend of Latin, pop, and rock influences.

Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Shakira made her recording debut with Sony Music Colombia at just 13 years old. While her first two albums, Magia (1991) and Peligro (1993), failed to achieve commercial success, they laid the groundwork for her artistic development. She rose to prominence across the Hispanic world with her third and fourth studio albums, Pies Descalzos (1995) and Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998). These critically acclaimed projects established her as a major force in Latin American music.