The Colombian singer-songwriter rose to global fame with her 2006 smash hit “Hips Don’t Lie,” which quickly climbed the charts and landed at #1. But long before that, she had already made a name for herself with her 1995 major-label debut album, Pies Descalzos, which marked the beginning of an incredible journey. Her international breakthrough came in 2001 with the infectious track “Whenever, Wherever,” solidifying her status as a music icon.
Even as a child, the singer showed signs of her creative spark—she penned a poem titled “The Crystal Rose” at just four years old. Back in school, people affectionately called her the belly dancer girl, a nod to her early passion for movement and rhythm. Years later, while attending UCLA, she often wore dark sunglasses and a hat to blend in and avoid unwanted attention from curious onlookers.
In 2011, the singer revealed her relationship with Spanish soccer star Gerard Piqué, capturing the hearts of fans worldwide. Together, they welcomed their first son, Milan Piqué Mebarak, on January 22, 2013, followed by their second son, Sasha Piqué Mebarak, on January 29, 2015. The family brought joy to many who followed her personal life alongside her music career. However, in 2022, the couple shared news of their separation, marking a new chapter in her life.
Throughout it all, the Colombian singer-songwriter has remained a powerful presence in the industry, admired not only for her voice but also for her resilience and authenticity.
She really made waves with her hit song “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa),” which racked up over 500 million views and climbed its way to becoming the seventh most-watched video on YouTube. That kind of success definitely put her in the spotlight, and people couldn’t stop talking about her global impact. Then, in 2016, she showed off her versatility by lending her voice to the character Gazelle in Disney’s animated blockbuster Zootopia—a role that only added to her growing list of accomplishments. Fast forward to 2017, and she once again broke records by making history as the first artist ever to have four Spanish-language songs from the same album chart on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s clear that her influence continues to grow, and each milestone she hits seems to redefine what’s possible. Her journey is nothing short of inspiring, and fans around the world continue to celebrate her achievements.