The Graceful OneHer name means “wom

The Graceful One
Her name means “woman full of grace “ in Arabic ,and,gracefully,she has danced and sung all the way to the Grammy and MTV Awards. In 2008,her creative talents earned her a nomination for a Golden Globe award for writing the best original song for a film.In short,she has become one of the most popular Latin pop stars-and an international sensation.
Shakira lsabel Mebarak Ripoll was born in Barranquilla,Colombia,on February2,1977.
She’s the daughter of a Colombian mother and a Lebanese father.Shakira’s love for music evident early on,and she wrote her first song at the age of 8. She learned belly-dancing from her Lebanese grandmother,and she used to love to perform-dancing and singing. According to one story,Shakira was kicked out of a choir because her strong voice drowned out the other singers. When Shakira was 10, she won her first national talent contest. And she went on winning other talent shows singing and playing the guitar. In 1990 , she signed a deal with Sony Music in Colombia and recorded her first album Magia(Magic) with songs she wrote between the ages of 8and 13.As a result, she was chosen to represent her country at the International OTI Song Festival in Spian. However, because she was under the minimum age of 16, she wasn’t allowed to participate. So instead,Shakira recorded a second album of original material,Peligro(Danger)back in Colombia.Then she took a break from music and went back to school.
Two year later,in 1995, Shakira recorded Pies Descalzos(Barefeet),a smash hit,which sold four million copies worldwide.
She went on a world tour and performed to sold-out audiences.In 1998,she abandoned the light-pop format she went was doing and recorded her very own brand of music:a blend of pop and rock.
The result was another hit: Donde Estan Los Ladrones?(Where Are The Thieves?).The idea to do song in English first came up during Shakira’s partnership with producer Emilio Estefan and his wife,singer Gloria Estefan. Together they producer Laundry Service. The most extraordinary thing about the album is the way Shakira was able to translate her Latin American sensibility into a new language. Shakira is the most exciting singer/songwriter to come out of Latin America in years.for the millions that buy her albums,she is already the voice of a new generation. In2003,she became the youngest ever UNlCEF(United Nations lnternational Children’s Emergency Fund)
Goodwill Ambassador.Shakira also runs a foundation to help poor childer in Colombia called Pies Descalzos(Barefeet).