Name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll
Nickname: Shaki
Height: 5’2’’ (1.57m)
Date of Birth: February 2, 1977
Birth place: Barranquilla, Colombia
Shakira Isabel was born on February 2, 1977 in Barranquilla, Colombia. Her father William Mebarak, who is American of Lebanese descent and Colombian mother, Nidia Ripoll, both supported their daughter’s ambition of becoming a singer. By the time she was eight, Shakira knew early on that she wanted to be a professional musician; she was already writing her own songs. Shakira began singing for her classmates at school, but her unique voice kept her out of the school choir. At the age of 10, her fondness for music was apparent early on, and she started winning local and national talent contests.