Shakira

Grammy Award winning Shakira is a singer, dancer and record producer. She was already a hit in Latin America before she released her first English speaking album Laundry Service in 2001. The album reached the top of the charts in the U.S. and the U.K. Shakira has sold more albums than any other Columbian artist with sales at over 50 million records. In November 2010 she won an American Music Award for Favorite Latin Artist.http://idolator.com/5696122/2010-american-music-awards-the-liveblog She writes her own music and produces her own albums.

Shakira was born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll in Barranquilla, Colombia to a family of Lebanese, Spanish, and Italian descent. She began her career writing poetry as a child, then expanded to singing and dancing. Her stage performances often include belly dancing or choreography influenced by belly dancing. Shakira has been engaged to Antonio de la Rúa, the son of the former President of Argentina Fernando de la Rúa since 2001.http://www.adnmundo.com/contenidos/actualidad/shakira_antonio_de_la_rua_muestran_juntos_publicamente_30062007_ac.html

In addition to her musical work, Shakira is also active as a speaker and philanthropist. She founded founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation, a Colombian educational charity, and she is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. People En Español gave her the title of Humanitarian of the Year in their December 2008/January 2009 issue. She was awarded medal by the United Nations' International Labor Organization in March 2010.http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/breaking-news/entertainment/shakira-honoured-by-united-nations-14708547.html?r=RSS

Shakira began performing in and around Barranquilla, Colombia around age 10. She impressed Colombian record agents for Sony, who signed her to a record deal. Her first two records in Colombia did not fare well, and she wasn't happy with either of them, particularly the production.

Beginning with her album Pies Descalzos, Shakira began producing her own music, creating a unique style and sound. Shakira became very famous in Latin America and Spanish-speaking countries around the world. With her first English-language album Laundry Service, Shakira was introduced to mainstream audiences in the United States.

Shakira's studio albums include:

• 1996: Pies Descalzos
• 1998: Dónde Están los Ladrones? Shakira
• 2001: Laundry Service
• 2005: Fijación Oral Vol. 1
• 2006: Oral Fixation Vol. 2
• 2009: She Wolf