Singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer Shakira - born Shakira Isabel Mebarak
Ripoll on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia – is one of the few
Colombians ever to become an international pop star. Her sexy image and hypnotic
dance music owes much to her poor upbringing in Barranquilla, where she was
heavily influenced by Arabic music and exotic dancing in local restaurants. Of
Lebanese, Italian, and Catalan descent, she had a reputation at school as a
belly dancer, and her gift for entertaining soon became apparent when she was
discovered by local theater producer Monica ...