SHAKIRA PROFILE

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

Name: Shakira
Famous as : Latin pop singer
Birth Name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Height: 4' 11"
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Sex: F
Weight: 106 lbs
Nationality: Colombian
Birth Date: February 2, 1977
Birth Place: Barranquilla, Colombia
Horoscope: Aquarius
Profession: Musician,Singer, Songwriter
Education: La Ensenanza School in Barranquilla
Relationship: Antonio de la Rúa (son of former President of Argentina, Fernando de la Rúa; dated since 2000; engaged in March 2001)
Cousin: Valerie Dominguez Tarud (fashion designer and Miss Colombia 2006)
Claim to fame: Her album Laundry Service with the worldwide hit 'Whenever, Wherever' and single 'Underneath Your Clothes' in 2001
Fun Fact: Her name is Arabic for "woman full of grace"
Family:
Father: William Mebarak (jewler, clock salesman)
Mother: Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado
Half Sister: Ana, Lucy (older; surgeon), Patricia (special education teacher)
Half Brother: Alberto (older; lawyer), Edward (younger), Moises (older), Tonino (younger; Shakira's road manager), Robin
Claim to Fame: Multi-platinum, Latin pop sensation crossed over with the hit album Laundry Service (2001)

BIOGRAPHY:

Shakira ( full name Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll ) was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia.

She is the youngest sibling of her parents' eight children. Her father William Mebarak, who is American of Lebanese descent, and Colombian mother, Nidia Ripoll, both supported their daughter's ambition of becoming a singer.

Shakira knew early on that she wanted to be a professional musician and by the time she was 8, she was already writing her own songs. This undeniable prodigy even began playing the guitar by 11 years of age.

While in school, Shakira was making her musical talent known by winning talent shows playing the guitar, and she was even kicked out of her school choir because her voice drowned out the other choir singers. Elsewhere, Shakira impressed judges at l
ocal and national competitions, who declared her winner of these contests.

At the age of 13, Shakira had become Sony Colombia's newest artist, and her first album, entitled Magia (Magic) was released. The album was a compilation of songs that she had written between the ages of 8 and 13.

The album was well received and Colombian listeners were beginning to realize who this feisty musician was. The 16-year-old Shakira was chosen to represent her native Colombia at the Festival OTI in Spain, but since she was under the minimum age, she could not participate.

Shakira's second album, Peligro (Danger) was released, and was met with considerable success. Not neglecting her education, she returned to school to receive her high school diploma.

Shakira knew early on in her career that she wanted to sing in the rock genre, despite Sony's original attempts to make her a pop singer, adhering to the commercial standards of the time. Following her heart, Shakira's third album, Pies Descalzos went on to become a huge hit, and featured her own rock, pop and Latin inspired tunes.

Released in 1995, Pies Descalzos's success is largely due to the Latin American radio airplay it received. It spawned number one singles such as "Estoy Aqui" and "Donde Estas Corazon" and many more consecutive hit singles. The album soared up to number one in eight countries and sold over four million copies.

Following the worldwide success of her album, Shakira went on a 2-year international tour, selling out in every venue. Her popularity pushed her to release Portuguese remixes of her songs for her fans in Brazil.

Shakira entered the realm of acting with a role on the Colombian soap opera El Oasis from 1994 to 1997, but her true passion remained music.

In 1998, Shakira released her fourth album, Donde Estan Los Ladrones?, which has received much critical acclaim and was considered Shakira's breakthrough album -- at least in the Latin genre. The album went multi-platinum in U.S., Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Central America, Mexico, and went platinum in Spain.

Produced by ?ber-producer Emilio Estefan -- who also became her manager -- the album is the perfect blend of gritty, thought-provoking lyrics and rock-laden tracks, while still preserving the Shakira that her original fans knew and loved.

Often referred to as the Latin equivalent of Alanis Morissette thanks to her long dark hair (at the time) and rock-infused style, Shakira, whose name means "woman full of grace" in Arabic, succeeds to captivate her audience without the bitterness that Morissette is usually associated with.

Shakira was chosen as the cover girl for Time Magazine's issue featuring the article "Era of the Rockera," and has also graced the cover of Cosmopolitan. In addition, Shakira was named an official goodwill ambassador by the Colombian government and Latin Female Artist of the Year at the World Music Awards.

While she released an MTV Unplugged album in 2000 -- which MTV didn't air at first, but later aired on MTV Latin America -- she had yet to breakthrough in mainstream English pop.

But a performance on the CBS-aired Latin Grammys in September 2000 (and several awards), and a catchy song "Whenever, Wherever," made American audiences sit up and take notice. Shakira's English recording debut, Laundry Service was released in 2001, and with the help of "Whenever, Wherever," its accompanying video (which features Shakira walking very seductively amid a desert and wildlife) and the follow-up single, "Underneath Your Clothes," has been certified double platinum. The now platinum-haired beauty is curving her way to superstardom.

TRIVIA:

• Is donating $45 million to help areas in Latin America plagued by problems still in existence. (September 2007)
• Breaks the record for the largest audience at a public concert in Mexico City - More than 200,000 fans came to see her performance, beating the previous record of 170,000 fans of local band Cafi Tacuba in 2005. (May 27, 2007)
• Along with famous novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez, she formed the foundation ALAS, the Latin America In Solidarity Action, to combat the awful conditions that kill 350,000 children in the Panama region each year. (December 13, 2006)
• Donated the proceeds from a concert in her hometown Barranquilla to build an arts school for 1,800 children who became homeless as a result of Colombia's civil war. (2006) Her hit ''Hips Don't Lie,'' featuring rap artist Wyclef Jean, became the most played song in pop radio history. (June 7, 2006)
• Closed the 2006 World Cup of football at Olympic stadium in Berlin, with a show before the final match in July 2006
• Is the first pop star to release a single only as a mobile-phone download. (March 20, 2006)
• Was honored with a giant steel statue in her hometown of Barranquilla. (2006)
• Fired her beauty staff after deciding she had become too obsessed with her appearance. (March 8, 2006)
• Denies rumors that she and Robbie Williams have been sharing nights of passion in LA, insisting that they are just friends and that she is happily in love with her Argentinean fiance of four years, Antonio De La Rua. (March 3, 2006)
• Does not think of herself as a feminist, just that she is a strong woman with masculine qualities.
• Once so concerned about the size of her breasts, she has finally decided against having plastic surgery, insisting she is happy being natural. (January 30, 2006)
• Reportedly sold her $6m beach mansion in Miami. (January 24, 2006)
• Was no. 8 on Blackwell's list of worst-dressed women of 2005.
• Admits that she is very shy about her body and that her sexy videos do not represent her as the kind of woman she is. (November 15, 2005)
• Says she's the very shy even though she's known for her sexy dance routines.
• Became the youngest ever goodwill ambassador for the United Nations’ UNICEF on October 24, 2003
• Postponed a concert in the Dominican Republic at the advice of her doctors because she was suffering from a throat infection -- The concert was scheduled for Wednesday night at Quisqueya Stadium in Santo Domingo, but it was postponed until Thursday night, promoter George Nader said. (March 21, 2003)
• Donated 10,000 pairs of tennis shoes to her hometown of Barranquilla to impoverished children -- the donation was made through the Barefoot Foundation, named after one of Shakira's disks called Pies Descalzos in Spanish. (December 21, 2002)
• Shakira proves to be a real doll – the singer has signed on with toy company Mattel, maker of Barbie, to license a collection of fashion dolls and accessories. (November 6, 2002)
• Shakira has signed an endorsement deal with Reebok that will be marketed under the sportswear giant's Sounds & Rhythm Of Sport platform. (September 24, 2002)
• Shakira is a walking, living, breathing, singing contradiction.
• She's a child prodigy who wrote her first song at age eight, a blond-locked Colombian who speaks three languages and loves only in Spanish.
• She's a perfectionist who spends hours in the studio; she needs to be close to nature but her passion is the crackle of electric guitars.
• Made emergency helicopter landing. Bad weather forces the singer's chopper down over a baseball diamond in the Dominican Republic on Friday, August 2, 2002. She and family escaped injury.

AWARDS:

51 awards (52 nominations)

2007 : Won Premio Juventud
category Mi idolo es... (My Idol Is...)

2007 : Won International Dance Music Award
category Best Latin/Reggaeton Track for "Hips Don't Lie"

2007 : Won People's Choice Award
category Favorite Pop Song for "Hips Don't Lie"

2007 : Won Premio Lo Nuestro
category Artista Femenina (Female Artist of the Year - Pop Genre)

2007 : Won BMI Latin Music Award
category Song of the Year for "La Tortura"
shared with Luis F. Ochoa (songwriter)

2007 : Won BMI Latin Music Award
category Ringtone of the Year for "La Tortura"
shared with Luis F. Ochoa (songwriter)

2007 : Won Billboard Latin Music Award
category Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Duet for "Hips Don't Lie"
shared with Wyclef Jean

2007 : Won Premio Juventud
category iQue rico que se mueve! (El o La que mejor baila) (Best Moves)

2006 : Won Billboard Latin Music Award
category Latin Pop Airplay Song of the Year, Duo or Group for "La Tortura"
shared with Alejandro Sanz

2006 : Won Billboard Latin Music Award
category Latin Pop Album of the Year, Female for "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1"

2006 : Won Billboard Latin Music Award
category Hot Latin Song of the Year, Vocal Duet for "La Tortura"
shared with Alejandro Sanz

2006 : Won Billboard Latin Music Award
category Hot Latin Song of the Year for "La Tortura"
shared with Alejandro Sanz

2006 : Won Premio Lo Nuestro
category Grupo O Duo Del Ano (Group or Duo of the Year - Pop Genre)
shared with Alejandro Sanz

2006 : Won Premio Lo Nuestro
category Cancion Del Ano (Song of the Year - Pop Genre) for "La Tortura"
shared with Alejandro Sanz

2006 : Won ALMA Award
category Spanish-Language Album of the Year for "Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1"

2006 : Won ALMA Award
category Outstanding Female Performer

2006 : Won American Music Award
category Favorite Latin Artist

2006 : Won Latin Grammy Award
category Record of the Year for "La Tortura"

2006 : Won Latin Grammy Award
category Album of the Year for "Fijación Oral Vol. 1"

2006 : Won Latin Grammy Award
category Song of the Year for "La Tortura"
shared with Luis F. Ochoa; Alejandro Sanz

2006 : Won MTV Video Music Award Latin America
category Song of the Year for "Hips Don't Lie"

2006 : Won International Dance Music Award
category Best Latin Dance Track for "La Tortura"

2006 : Won Premio Lo Nuestro
category Album del Ano (Album of the Year - Pop Genre) for "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1"

2006 : Won Grammy Award
category Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album for "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1"

2006 : Won NRJ Music Award
category Best International Song of the Year for "La Tortura"

2006 : Won World Music Award
category World's Best Latin Artist

2006 : Won Latin Grammy Award
category Best Female Pop Vocal Album for "Fijación Oral Vol. 1"

2006 : Won Billboard Latin Music Award
category Latin Ringtone of the Year for "La Tortura"
shared with Alejandro Sanz

2005 : Won Billboard Music Award
category Latin Pop Album of the Year for "Fijacion Oral Vol. 1"

2005 : Won MTV Europe Music Award
category Best Female Act

2005 : Won American Music Award
category Favorite Latin Artist

2005 : Won Billboard Music Award
category Latin Song of the Year for "La Tortura"
shared with Alejandro Sanz

2005 : Won Billboard Music Award
category Latin Pop Album Artist of the Year

2004 : Won Premio Lo Nuestro
category Artista Femenina (Best Female Artist); (in Pop Genre)

2003 : Won World Music Award
category Best Latin Female Artist

2003 : Won Amadeus Award
category Single of the Year, International (Single des Jahres International) for "Whenever, Wherever"

2003 : Won Premio Lo Nuestro
category Artista Femenina (Best Female Artist); (in Pop Genre)

2003 : Won Premio Lo Nuestro
category Premio Del Pueblo Internet (People's Internet Award); (in Rock Genre)

2002 : Won MuchMusic Video Award
category People's Choice - Favorite International Artist

2002 : Won MuchMusic Video Award
category Best International Video (Artist) for "Whenever, Wherever"

2002 : Won Latin Grammy Award
category Best Music Video for "Suerte"

2002 : Won MTV Video Music Award Latin America
category Best Artist from the North Region

2002 : Won MTV Video Music Award Latin America
category Best Female Artist

2002 : Won MTV Video Music Award Latin America
category Best Pop Artist

2002 : Won MTV Video Music Award Latin America
category Artist of the Year

2002 : Won MTV Video Music Award Latin America
category Video of the Year

2002 : Won TMF Award
category Best International New Artist

2002 : Won Ritmo Latino Music Award
category Meilleur Video for "Whenever, Wherever"

2001 : Won Grammy Award
category Best Latin Pop Album for "MTV Unplugged"

1999 : Won Ritmo Latino Music Award
category Meilleur Chanteuse Pop

1998 : Won World Music Award
category Latin Female Artist of the Year

FILMOGRAPHY:

Soundtrack:

1. Love in the Time of Cholera (2007) (music: "Despedida") (lyrics: "Despedida") (performer: "Despedida")
2. "The Vicar of Dibley" (1 episode, 2007)
3. "Ugly Betty" (1 episode, 2006)
4. Nº1 de 40 en concierto, Los (2006) (TV) (performer: "Corazón partío", "No", "La tortura")
5. Plötzlich wieder 16 (2003) (TV) (performer: "The One")
6. "Operación triunfo" (1 episode, 2002)

Writer:

1. Shakira: Live and Off the Record (2004) (V) (writer)
2. Shakira: Laundry Service - Washed and Dried (2002) (V) (writer)

Producer:

1. Shakira: Live and Off the Record (2004) (V) (producer)

Editor:

1. Shakira: Live and Off the Record (2004) (V)

Composer:

1. Shakira: Laundry Service - Washed and Dried (2002) (V)

Music Department:

1. Shakira: Laundry Service - Washed and Dried (2002) (V) (music producer)

Actress:

1. "Oasis, El" (1996) TV series .... Luisa Maria

Self:

1. "Herz für Kinder, Ein" .... Herself - Showact (1 episode, 2007)
2. Live Earth: The Concerts for a Climate Crisis (2007) (TV) .... Herself
3. "Caiga quien caiga" .... Herself (1 episode, 2007)
4. The 49th Annual Grammy Awards (2007) (TV) .... Herself
5. E! Live from the Red Carpet: The 2007 Grammy Awards (2007) (TV) .... Herself
6. Premios principales 2006 (2006) (TV) .... Herself
7. The Official Film of the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) (2006) (V) .... Herself
8. Premios Ondas '06 (2006) (TV) .... Herself (taped)
9. The 7th Annual Latin Grammy Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
10. Premios Oye 2006 (2006) (TV) .... Herself
11. MTV Video Music Awards 2006 (2006) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
12. Nº1 de 40 en concierto, Los (2006) (TV) .... Herself
13. "2006 FIFA World Cup" (2006) (mini) TV mini-series .... Herself
14. 2006 Billboard Latin Music Awards (2006) (TV) .... Herself
15. X premios de la música (2006) (TV) .... Herself - Honoree
16. "Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2005-2006)
17. "American Idol: The Search for a Superstar" .... Herself - Guest Performer (1 episode, 2006)
18. Andalucía te quiere (2006) (TV) .... Herself
19. "Tan a gustito" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
20. "Pop the Question" (2006) TV series
21. "Corazón de..." .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
22. "Echo - Deutscher Musikpreis" .... Herself - Performer (1 episode, 2006)
23. "Popworld" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
24. "Top of the Pops" .... Herself (4 episodes, 2002-2006)
25. Premio lo Nuestro a la música latina 2006 (2006) (TV) .... Herself
26. "Top of the Pops: Reloaded" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
27. "Top of the Pops" .... Herself (1 episode, 2006)
28. Brain Fart (2005) (TV) .... Herself
29. "Late Show with David Letterman" .... Herself Musical Guest (1 episode, 2005)
30. "Mad TV" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2002-2005)
31. "Saturday Night Live" .... Herself - Musical Guest (2 episodes, 2001-2005)
32. "Good Morning America" .... Herself - Guest (1 episode, 2005)
33. NocheBuena, La (2005) (TV) .... Herself
34. 2005 American Music Awards (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter and Winner
35. "Jensen!" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
36. "Planet Voice" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
37. "Channel nº 4" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
38. "Wetten, dass..?" .... Herself (4 episodes, 2002-2005)
39. MTV Europe Music Awards 2005 (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Winner and Performer
40. "Total Request Live" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
41. MTV Video Music Awards 2005 (2005) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
42. "Don Francisco presenta" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
43. Live 8 (2005) (TV) .... Herself-Paris
44. "Operación triunfo" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2002-2005)
45. Spécial 'Fête de la musique' (2005) (TV) .... Herself
46. "The View" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
47. "TV total" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
48. "7 vidas" .... Herself (1 episode, 2005)
49. Maxim Hot 100 (2004) (TV) (also archive footage) .... Herself (#54) (Interviewee)
50. Shakira: Live and Off the Record (2004) (V) .... Herself
51. 50 Sexiest Video Moments (2003) (TV) .... Herself
52. The Record of the Year 2002 (2002) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
53. Shakira: Laundry Service - Washed and Dried (2002) (V) .... Herself
54. "CD:UK" .... Herself (1 episode, 2002)
55. MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamérica 2002 (2002) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
56. MTV Video Music Awards 2002 (2002) (TV) .... Herself - Performer song 'Objection'
57. "Noche de fiesta" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2001-2002)
58. "Música sí" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2002)
59. "Making the Video" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2002)
60. Party in the Park 2002 (2002) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
61. "TROS TV Show" .... Herself (1 episode, 2002)
62. 2002 Much Music Video Music Awards (2002) (TV) .... Herself
63. VH1 Divas Las Vegas (2002) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
64. The 2002 World Music Awards (2002) (TV) .... Herself
65. "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" .... Herself (2 episodes, 2001-2002)
66. "SM:TV Live" .... Herself (1 episode, 2002)
67. "Otro rollo con: Adal Ramones" .... Herself (1 episode, 2002)
68. "TRL Italy" .... Herself (1 episode, 2002)
69. MTV Icon: Aerosmith (2002) (TV) .... Herself
70. Elvis Lives (2002) (TV) .... Herself
71. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" .... Herself (2 episodes, 1999-2001)
72. Spankin New TRL with Shakira (2001) (TV) .... Herself - Performer
73. 2nd Annual Latin Grammy Awards (2001) (TV) .... Herself
74. MTV Video Music Awards 2001 (2001) (TV) .... Herself - Presenter
75. "Taina" .... Herself (1 episode, 2001)
76. "HermanSIC" .... Herself (1 episode, 2000)
77. "CNN World Beat" .... Herself (1 episode, 2000)
78. Gala de la hispanidad 1999 (1999) (TV) .... Herself
79. Shakira: MTV Unplugged (1999) (V) .... Herself
80. ¡Mi Gente! My People! (1999) (TV) .... Herself
81. The Latin Beat (1999) (TV) .... Herself
82. "Club de Los Tigritos, El" .... Herself (2 episodes, 1998)

Archive Footage:

1. Premios principales 2007 (2007) (TV) .... Herself
2. MTV Video Music Awards 2007 (2007) (TV) .... Herself
3. "Al rojo vivo con María Celeste"
4. "Headlines on Trial" (2006) .... Herself - Accused
5. "Video on Trial"
6. "On a tout essayé"
7. Disco del año, El (2005) (TV) .... Herself
8. "Corazón de..."
9. "Show de Cristina, El"

SHAKIRA'S QUOTATIONS:

The worst mistake of a woman is to go to the kitchen, because then she never gets out of there.

"I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I'm not capable, I'm too cowardly for that".

"It's not easy to work with me, I recognize that. It's not easy if those people aren't as perfectionistic as I am".

"The worst frustration for a singer is choosing a career in making music and then not being able to make music because you're always giving interviews".

"My brain, I believe, is the most beautiful part of my body".

Videos come definitely after the music has been created, but I have always felt, and especially today, that videos are vital in the album process. I think that we live in a very visual era and if you make a mistake with a video, those images will accompany the song forever. There is no way to divorce the image from the music once the video has been filmed and exposed.

I remember the first time I saw the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" video. I will never forget that day. I just wanted to see Kurt Cobain's face. I had a feeling he was very cute. But, I couldn't see his face. When I finally did see him, he was even cuter than I imagined!

People think I like to expose my body. But I don't. It's just because the dance moves require it.

You can laugh, but since I was a child I knew that I was going to be a well- known singer/songwriter; that was something I had no doubts about. It was almost like a prophecy.

I love reading about history. Sometimes, I feel I was born in the wrong era. There was more creativity in the air when people were still discovering new worlds.

Writing in English was a major challenge. I didn't want other songwriters to write for me. I wanted to preserve the spirit of my songs in Spanish. I am the same Shakira in English as I am in Spanish.

I expect my beloved to be kind, generous, I expect him not to lie so I can look him straight in the eyes, and I expect him to fall in love with me 10 times a day.

I think my dad is the only Arabic descendent who is an unsuccessful businessman.

I'm lucky to have family around me. Otherwise, I'll be taking the risk of falling in love with myself. But there are always people close to me who I trust, who will scold me and pull my ears if I need it. Fame isolates people from reality. That happens to many artists, and I don't want it to happen to me.

I have learned that I am an adult already. And to grow with something is sometimes painful. And its great; I don't say it's a bad thing-but many things change, and many more responsibilities come, and you have more closure in your life, and more possibilities. It's just that it's not as pink as before, but its more interesting.

The cobra is deadly but mongoose can overcome it. We all have possibillity to defeat prejudiced and resentment in our lives. Fear is the thing that makes us attack, that makes us strike. We must overcome it. We must.
I'm a believer. I try to be near God, because when I feel that there's a certain distance, everything begins to look like a blur. It makes the road somewhat smoother. When I feel that I'm without God, I have to make an effort to drag my feet to keep on going.

I think I look like a chipmunk.

The leaders are lacking love, and love is lacking leaders.

I cannot expect that I will be successful my whole life. We live so caught up in the moment, it's important to get some perspective. Ultimately, I know I've been very lucky.

When I perform, I find myself exorcised of everything that keeps me trapped in my everyday life.

A bed is still the first thing I look for when I have 20 free minutes. I still read a book if I have a free hour, and go to a movie if I have four.

I never went through an adolescence when kids become rebels and do drugs.I was always the good girl.

I had my first boyfriend when I was 12, and my parents knew about it. My dad was very jealous. I had an older sister in medical school, and he would not let her wear tight jeans.

Earlier I tried not to show my stomach, because I thought it wasn't perfect and I would have seemed fat. I would have died! But that does not bother me anymore. Like my dad says there is nothing more beautiful than some meat on the bones.