Portal 1: Personal Information

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia. The only daughter of William Mebarak, an American of Lebanese origin who emigrated to Colombia at the age of five, and his second wife Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado, a Colombian of Catalan descent. He has eight older stepbrothers from a previous marriage of his father. Shakira in Arabic means "grateful" or "full of grace." He is fluent in Portuguese, Italian, English, Spanish and Arabic. From very young composes songs and attends child competitions. His Lebanese grandmother taught him the art of Arab belly dance. Occupation songwriter, composer, record producer, arranger, dancer, choreographer and actress. In 2000, the Colombian government named Shakira Goodwill Ambassador. Since early 2011, she maintains a sentimental relationship with the Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, The singer and the soccer player who turn years on the same day on the same day (2 February), although 10 years apart, are parents of two beautiful Milan and Sasha barons.