Shakira's Photos - 2009
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born in Barranquilla (Colombia), on February 2, 1977, to a Colombian mother and an american born father of Lebanese descent. Shakira, means "grateful" in Arabic, is named after her grandmother. She was one of seven siblings, one of whom is her road manager. 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. Between the ages of ten to thirteen, Shakira was invited to various events in Barranquilla, and gained some recognition in the area. It was around this time that she met local theater producer Monica Ariza, who was impressed with Shakira and as a result attempted to help her career. During a flight from Barranquilla to Bogot�, Ariza convinced Sony Colombia executive Ciro Vargas to hold an audition for Shakira in a motel lobby. Vargas held Shakira in good regards and returned to the Son...