Our Hips Don’t Lie, Shakira Is Our Woman Crush Wednesday

With an undeniable voice and moves that could kill, we are Shakira's biggest fan. This Colombian singer is one red-hot tamale!

Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born in Barranquilla, Colombia on February 2, 1977. Yeah, we didn't think she looked 37 either. Her father was born in New York City to a Lebanese couple, while her mother comes from Spanish and Italian descent. Hence, the gorgeous skin. She began writing poems at the age of four, which soon became songs.

Music

Shakira quickly became known as "the belly dancer girl" at school. She auditioned for the school choir in second grade. Her music teacher told her that her vibrato was too strong and that she sounded like a goat.  It was a local theater producer, Monica Ariza, who recognized Shakira's talent. Ariza convinced a Sony Colombia executive to hold an audition for Shakira. She then signed on for three albums with the label.

She was just 13 years old at the time.

Her debut album Magia was released in June 1991 and did well in Colombia, but it wasn't until her third album, Pies Desalzos released in 1996, that she saw any major success. It debuted at No. 1 in eight different countries. She then put out a fourth album in September 1998, Donde Estan los Ladrones?.

Then it was time for an English transition.

Laundry Service, her first English album was released in November 2001, with songs like "Whenever, Wherever", "Underneath Your Clothes", "Objection", and "The One." The album received mixed reviews. English speakers said she sounded silly, Latin fans thought she was abandoning her roots.

Shakira's sixth and seventh albums were released in Spanish and English, respectively. Oral Fixation, Vol. 2, her seventh album featured songs like "Hips Don't Lie" and "Illegal." In 2009, she releaed her eighth album, She Wolf with the title track, "Did It Again", and "Give It Up To Me." Shakira also recorded "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

These Days

In 2012, Shakira replaced Christina Aguilera as a coach on The Voice. She served on the show one season, was off for a season, and is currently back in her famous red chair. She is currently working on her 10th album and has already released one single, "Can't Remember to Forget You", in which she collaborated with Rihanna. Her self-titled 10th album will be released March 25 of this year.

Personal Life

Aside from her countless philanthropy efforts, Shakira is the highest-selling Colombian artist of all time. She has sold almost 60 million albums. She dated Argentinian lawyer Antonio de la Rua for 11 years. The two never married. Shakira is currently dating Spanish football player Gerard Pique, who plays for FC Barelona. They have a son named Milan Pique Mebarak. Shakira recently said she wants to have eight or nine babies with Gerard, their "own little futbol team."