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14 interesting facts you may not have known about Shakira
Did you know that the renowned Colombian singer hates getting up early or that she has been a UN Goodwill Ambassador since 2003? Find out more interesting facts about our star from Barranquilla here.
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, the most beloved Barranquillera by Colombians, is currently our country’s ambassador to the entire world. The movement of her hips and her unforgettable voice have left a mark in every corner of the planet.
14 fun facts about Shakira
1. The Barranquillera, like a good percentage of mortals, hates waking up early. In fact, whenever possible, she schedules her recordings and commitments after 11 a.m.
2. The different situations she has faced throughout her life have inspired her songs. In fact, the album “¿Dónde están los ladrones?” (“Where are the thieves?”) was named after the lyrics of her upcoming release were stolen.
3. In one of those tough moments, her father took her to visit neighborhoods populated by people with very low resources. From then on, her philanthropic side emerged.
4. Shakira is the singer who has participated the most in FIFA World Cups. It all started with “Hips Don’t Lie”, the anthem of Germany 2006; then came “Waka Waka”, for the 2010 South Africa World Cup; and finally “La La La”, the anthem of Brazil 2014.
5. The singer has a very well-developed sense of smell. She has often said she remembers people more by their scent than by their face or name.
6. One of Shakira’s main hobbies is working with clay. Many of the objects created from this hobby are displayed in her home as part of the décor.
7. In addition to being recognized as a singer and founder of the Pies Descalzos Foundation, Shakira has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since 2003. According to its mission, Pies Descalzos seeks “to support education in Colombia, as well as to contribute to the challenges of quality in educational infrastructure, teaching, and innovation processes faced by education in the country and in Latin America.”
8. Do you remember Oasis —and no, we don’t mean the Gallagher brothers’ band—? Does that name sound familiar? Surely her early fans will smile at this memory: Shakira starred in a Colombian telenovela produced by Cenpro TV, broadcast on Canal A. Whatever happened to Luisa María? Sounds like it’s worth rewatching!
9. This fact may surprise many: Shakira is a skilled polyglot. Whether in Spanish, Arabic, Italian, Catalan, English, or Portuguese, the Colombian makes anyone dance. Don’t be surprised if in the future we hear her singing in yet another language!
10. Shakira has turned down opportunities to act in Hollywood movies on at least two occasions. Once, she reportedly skipped a casting she had been invited to. Her role would have been opposite Matt Damon. Later, she directly rejected the role of Elena de la Vega in the movie “The Mask of Zorro” because her English was not yet fluent. But that was a while ago—would she accept today?
11. What was Shakira’s first song? Tough one! Since many would fail this trivia question, here’s the answer: it was “Gafas Oscuras” (“Dark Glasses”), a song the Barranquillera wrote at age 8 in honor of her father.
12. “Nothing said or unsaid about Shakira can change her path as a great and unstoppable artist.” That’s what García Márquez said about the Barranquillera. Moreover, the Nobel laureate dedicated a profile on the artist for Cambio magazine.
13. If not with Matt Damon, another top-level production awaited her. In Zootopia, the Disney film, Shakira was the voice of Gazelle; she also sang one of the songs from the film’s soundtrack.
14. Her session with Bizarrap has taken YouTube by storm. In fact, it is clear that the goddess of Latin pop is also the queen of the platform: within just 24 hours of release, it had over 60 million views. This collaboration has been recognized as the most-played song and video by a Hispanic artist on the platform. If before it was J Balvin with Nicky Jam and their hit “X”, now it’s the Barranquillera “she-wolf’s” turn. A true legend! And that’s it for now! We could talk about Shakira all day, but better to let her music speak for her.
