Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, bom in Barranquilla, Colombia on February 2 1977, known simply as Shakira, is an internationally famous singer.
Shakira was born to a Lebanese father and a Colombian-Italian mother, and moved to Bogota at the age of thirteen. She released her first album, Magia (Magic), one year later, on the Sony label. The album was only moderately successful, and Peligro (Danger), her second album, was no better received.

Shakira turned to acting and played a role in a Colombian telenovela ("El Oasis"), but re¬turned to the music business in 1995 with the album Pies descalzos (Barefeet), which established her commercial success. The hit "Es-toy aqui" became known internationally. The Remixes was created and featured remixes from the songs on Pies descalzos.
Following this, Shakira met Emilio Estefan, Jr., who would become the executive producer of her next album. Donde estan los ladrones? (Where are the thieves?) was a huge production which cost over US$3 million. It was a huge hit which gained wide critical acclaim1 and which many consider to be her best album ever.