Shakira

• Professional Name: Shakira
• Birth Name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
• Date of Birth: Feb. 2, 1977
• Place of Birth: Barranquilla, Columbia
• Occupation: Singer/Songwriter, Dancer, & Musician
• Height: 5'2"
• Ethnicity: Lebanese, Spanish, Italian
  

Shakira was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Columbia to William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia Ripoll. She is the only child from her parents union, and is the youngest of nine from her father's previous marriage. From an early age she enjoyed singing, song writing, and belly dancing, all of which she has carried over into adulthood.

Shakira's first album, Magia, was released when she was thirteen years old by Sony Music. The album did well in Columbia, but didn't make it past that. It wasn't until 1995, with the release of her album Pies Descalzos, that she received notoriety throughout Latin America. By 2001, Shakira had received international stardem with the release of her album Laundry Service, her first English album. She has been on top of the charts in the U.S. and Latin America ever since.

• Often performs barefoot.
• Natural hair color is black.
• She has 8 older half-siblings.
• Her father is originally from America, her mother is from Columbia.
• She's a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
  
• Speaks fluent Portuguese, Spanish, and English.
  

• She's Latin! Which of course makes her awesome. :p
• She founded Pies Descalzos Foundation, which helps make better schools for children in Columbia.
• She's very business savvy.
• She went from being a poor Columbia girl to a famous international singer.