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Shakira is born
Skakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. Her father, Don William Mebarak Chadid, is Leabnease (Arabic) and her mother, Nidia Ripoll Torrado, is Colombian. She has eight brothers and sisters. -
Shakira writes her first song
At the age of eight, Skakira wrote her first song dedicated to her older half brother's death from a motorcycle accident. He died when she was only two years old and she says hearing about her half brother's death is her first memory. The song is "Tus Gaffas Oscuras" meaning "Your Dark Sunglasses". Her parents realized that she had a special talent and entered her in many singing competitions. -
First successful album
She released "Pies Descalzos" (Bare Feet), which was her first successful album. This successful album sold around three million copies. The album featured her well-known sound, a blending of Latin, rock, and Arabic musical styles. -
First album sold WORLDWIDE!
In Bogota, Colombia, "Donde Estan los Ladrones" was released. It was a major success selling 10 million copies worldwide! It also reached the top of the Billboard's Latin Charts. This album helped her get noticed and become a music superstar in the Spanish-speaking markets. She became known for her strong vocals and incredible hip shaking, belly dance moves. -
First English-speaking album
Emilio Estefan, Gloria Estefan’s husband, became her manager and producer and by 2001 she had released her first English album called “Laundry Service”. This album did exactly what her and her family wanted and that was getting her on the charts. The album was number three on the charts, selling more than 200,000 copies in the first week. The most listened to songs on the album where “Whenever Wherever” and “Underneath Your Clothes”. -
5 MTV awards/ Best Artist of the Year
Shakira takes home five trophies, including Best Artist of the Year, at the MTV Video Music Awards Latin America in Miami. A month earlier, she performed at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City and snagged a Moon Man; at that ceremony is when the worldwide audience voted to give her the International Viewers' Choice Award. -
"Hips Don't Lie"
As sales of Oral Fixation began to slow in early 2006, she reissued the album in March with a bonus track, "Hip Don't Lie." The newly recorded song went on to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June, becoming one of the summer's biggest hits and reviving sales of Oral Fixation, as well as Shakira's entire back catalog. -
Shakira makes a song for the 2010 World Cup
"Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," the official song of the 2010 FIFA World Cup became an international smash hit. -
Shakira's love life
Months after her split with her former boyfriend of 11 years Antonia de la Rua, Shakira Tweets a cozy photo of her and FC Barcelona soccer player Gerard Piqué with a Spanish caption that translates to "I present my sun to you." -
SHAKIRA'S PREGNANT!
A day after announcing her role as a replacement coach on The Voice's fourth season , Shakira confirms she is pregnant . "As some of you may know, Gerard and I are very happy awaiting the arrival of our first baby!" she writes on her website. She has already confirmed that the sex of the baby is a boy.
