Shakira, who goes by her mononym stage name, has been a prominent figure in the music industry for more than two decades. She made her mark with the release of her global hit “Wherever, Whenever” in 2001 and has since remained a fixture on the charts. This year, the MTV Video Music Awards recognized her contributions by awarding her the Video Vanguard Award for her role as a trailblazer for women in both the Latin and global music scenes. To commemorate her impressive career thus far, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and reminisce about some of her greatest moments from the early 2000s to today. Keep reading to learn more.
Shakira rose to worldwide fame in the early 2000s, but she has been a successful recording artist since she was just a teenager. During the 1990s, she released four albums and made her recording debut at the age of 13. Although she had success in Latin America with her first album in 1991, it took a decade before she became recognized outside of the region. Despite this, Shakira persevered and ultimately found success in the US market, solidifying her status as a superstar.
In the year 2001, Shakira experienced a significant breakthrough in her music career. Prior to this, she was not well-known in the US music industry, but she had already gained popularity in the Latin music scene during the ’90s. This all changed when she released her first English-language single, “Whenever, Wherever,” which was included in her debut album called “Laundry Service.” The song’s upbeat and memorable melody propelled Shakira into global fame, setting the stage for her impressive 22-year run as a chart-topping artist.
Shakira had been striving to make a name for herself in the American music industry for quite some time. When she finally made her debut in 2001, with the release of her iconic song “Hips Don’t Lie”, the singer confessed that it was an intimidating and monumental transition to switch from creating music in Spanish to English. In an interview with PopEntertainment.com, she shared that she felt both ready and apprehensive before taking on this challenge of writing and presenting an English album to the world. Despite her fears, Shakira trusted her instincts and took the leap, knowing that it was the right choice for her career.
In the year 2001, Shakira was photographed promoting her album Laundry Service which was also known as Servicio de Lavanderia.
On December 18, 2001, Shakira graced the stage at the Fourth Annual Miracle on 34th Street concert held at the radio station KTU. It was a fantastic event that saw the talented artist deliver a memorable performance to her fans and music lovers in attendance.
Shakira made an appearance at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards held on February 11, 2007 in Los Angeles, California.
Back in 2009, Shakira was spotted at the Latino inaugural gala called “Celebrando El Cambio – Renewing America’s Promise” held at Union Station in Washington, DC.
In 2011, Shakira started her relationship with former Barcelona football player Gerard Piqué. During a concert in Spain, Piqué even joined her on stage. This was one of the first public appearances the couple made after announcing their romance.
In 2016, Shakira attended the debut of Zootopia, a movie created by Walt Disney Animation Studios.
In 2016, Shakira and Piqué were spotted at the Los 40 Music Awards gala in Barcelona, Spain along with their two sons Milan and Sasha. The family looked happy and stylish as they posed for photos at the event.
In August 2018, Shakira began her El Dorado World Tour in North America with a show at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Four years later, in May 2022, she was spotted attending the screening of the film “Elvis” during the 75th annual Cannes film festival at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.
In 2023, Shakira turned heads with her bold fashion choice at Paris Fashion Week.
