Lasting Legacy of Shakira: A Look at the Influence on History

A closer look at the lasting mark left by Shakira—a timeline of influence.

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll is a highly acclaimed Colombian singer, songwriter, dancer, and record producer, often dubbed the "Queen of Latin Music." She is recognized for her significant influence on Latin American music and her role in popularizing Hispanophone music globally, contributing to the increased interest in the Spanish language. She has received numerous awards, including 4 Grammy Awards and 15 Latin Grammy Awards.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1997: Billboard Latin Music Awards and Cultural Ambassador Appointment

In 1997, Shakira received three Billboard Latin Music Awards for Album of the Year for 'Pies Descalzos', Video of the Year for "Estoy Aqui", and Best New Artist. She was also named a national cultural ambassador by the president of Colombia.

1999: Praised by Gabriel García Márquez

In 1999, Colombian Nobel Prize winning novelist Gabriel García Márquez wrote "no one of any age can sing or dance with the innocent sensuality Shakira seems to have invented", praising her phenomenal musical talent, extraordinary maturity, and will of granite.

2001: Success in Latin America

By 2001, Shakira had already sold 10 million albums in Latin America, according to Billboard, before she released 'Laundry Service'.

2002: Shakira's thoughts on Rock vs. Pop

In late 2002, Shakira shared her perspective on rock versus pop music, acknowledging rock's rigidity and pop's metamorphic opportunities, expressing her preference to navigate between the two.

2006: Cited for sharing her talent and culture

In 2006, the journal Global Issues cited Shakira as one of the celebrities "in today's globalized world" who "made it big by sharing the uniqueness of their talent and culture with the global community".

2008: Honorary Chairperson of the Global Campaign for Education

In 2008, Shakira was named the honorary chairperson of the Global Campaign for Education, highlighting her commitment to promoting education worldwide.

November 2009: Described as a wildly inventive diva

In November 2009, Steve Huey of AllMusic described Shakira as a "wildly inventive diva who created a cross-cultural pop sound rooted in her native Colombia but encompassing nearly every territory in the world".

November 2009: "The making of Saint Shakira"

In November 2009, The Guardian published an essay by Euan Ferguson titled "The making of Saint Shakira", discussing her impact on Colombia's social change and her ability to effectively discuss issues with world leaders.

2009: Shakira's life described as "relentless and unlikely"

In 2009, Scott Malcomson described Shakira's life as "relentless and unlikely" in The New York Times Magazine, commenting on her intense manner, extreme work ethics, attentiveness to fans, and the limiting yet critical role of her "feminine allure".

2009: Showed how universal a Latin artist could be

In 2009, Scott Malcomson wrote in The New York Times Magazine that Shakira showed how universal a Latin artist could be, balancing her Lebanese ancestry and English-language songs while staying Latin American.

2009: Shakira reflects on her life in the public eye

In 2009, Shakira reflected on her life in the public eye from a young age, stating that it's the only way of living she knows and that her family and friends help her stay grounded.

2009: Shakira reflects on her motivation

In 2009, Shakira spoke about her motivation throughout her career, initially driven by the desire to bring joy to her parents and pride to her community, but eventually realizing the importance of personal fulfillment.

February 2011: Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year

In February 2011, the Harvard Foundation named Shakira Artist of the Year at its Cultural Rhythms festival, awarding her its most prestigious medal for her contributions to music and her humanitarian efforts.

2013: "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" called the most successful World Cup anthem ever

In 2013, Billboard called "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" the most successful World Cup anthem ever.

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2015: Time's Most Influential People on Social Media

In 2015, Time recognized Shakira as one of the most influential people on social media, highlighting her significant "social capital" and "unparalleled platform" for promoting her work and philanthropy.

September 2017: Referred to as a "pop legend"

In September 2017, Time magazine referred to Shakira as a "pop legend".

2017: Comments on Shakira's artistic output

In 2017, Kate Müser commented on Shakira's diverse artistic output. Rolling Stone compared her to American female pop idols.

2018: "Hips Don't Lie" selected as one of the greatest songs by 21st century female artists

In 2018, "Hips Don't Lie" was selected as one of the greatest songs by 21st century female artists by National Public Radio.

2018: Spotify's Most-Streamed Female Artist

In 2018, Spotify listed Shakira as the number 10 most-streamed female artist of the decade on the platform, and the highest-streamed Latin artist.

2018: Called a "titan of Latin Pop"

In 2018, The New York Times called Shakira "a titan of Latin Pop", noting her production of rock, pop, and reggaeton over almost three decades.

2019: Houston Press Recommendation for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

In 2019, Houston Press listed Shakira as one of the women who should have been introduced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, noting her debut album was released nearly 30 years prior.

October 2020: 25th Anniversary of 'Pies Descalzos'

In October 2020, Lucas Villa noted the 25th anniversary of Shakira's LP "Pies Descalzos" (Bare Feet). Villa highlighted that the 18-year-old Shakira had full creative control, baring her soul and introducing her poetic lyricism to the world.

December 2020: Perceived as one of the most influential artists of the 21st century

In December 2020, Entertainment Tonight perceived Shakira as "one of the most influential artists of the 21st century".

2020: Paved the way for Latin artists

In 2020, Lucas Villa of Paper magazine summarized that Shakira paved the way for such Latin artists as Maluma and J Balvin to crossover.

2020: Spotify Record

In 2020, Shakira became the first female artist with four songs from different decades to have over 100 million streams on Spotify.

March 2021: Shakira listed as a feminist hero by Global Citizen

On International Women's Day, March 2021, Global Citizen listed Shakira among "14 feminist heroes one should know and celebrate".

2022: MTV's Most Influential Women in Music

In 2022, MTV (Latin America) included Shakira in the list of "the most influential women in the history of music", as the only Latina on the list.

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2022: Estimated Financial Worth

In 2022, Shakira's financial worth was estimated at $300 million.

May 2023: Billboard Latin Woman of the Year

In May 2023, Billboard honored Shakira as the "Latin Woman of the Year", the first time the magazine bestowed this distinction. Billboard highlighted Shakira's record-breaking achievements of 2022 and 2023 and noted that she had been one of the best-selling musicians of all time.

2023: Recognition as a Best-Selling Musician

By 2023, Shakira had sold over 95 million records, solidifying her status as one of the world's best-selling musicians.

2023: YouTube Views Milestone

By 2023, Shakira was one of the top-10 artists of all time on YouTube, with over 20 billion cumulative views.

June 2024: Partnership with Despegar

In June 2024, the Despegar company announced its partnership with Shakira, referring to her as "the world's iconic artist". Despegar wrote that Shakira has challenged the boundaries of art and music, establishing herself as one of the most influential and beloved artists of all time.