Name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll

Age: 29

Occupation: Singer

Place of Residence: Miami and Colombia

Bio: From Wikipedia: “Shakira was born in Barranquilla, Colombia to a Colombian mother Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado of Catalan descent and an American-born father William Mebarak Chadid of Lebanese-Macedonian descent. She was one of seven siblings, one of which is her road manager. Shakira began writing and composing music at the age of eight.” And Shakira’s been writing and performing ever since. She hit the big time in Latin America in the 90s, and really made her mark on the world when she decided to take the plunge and record an English language version of her hit album “Donde están los ladrones”. From there, Shakira has risen to the level of international music icon, taking her place among the biggest stars in pop music, and boasting pop history’s most played song.

Why she’s loved: Shakira is admired not only for her talent as a singer, but also for representing with pride her home country of Colombia, getting involved in intitiatives that benefit the South American country, such as the anti-landmine campaign led by Juanes and charities related to children. In the musical realm, fans love her for being for a Latina star who’s larger than life both for Latinos and non-Latinos the world over.

Why she’s hated: A few choice incidents have some people hating on Shakira. The first that comes to mind is when she allegedly threw away a heap of fan mail. She also been accused of thinking being fat was funny. Others hate on her for lipsynching. A recurring theme is also that, unlike her paisano Juanes, she sold out to the mainstream by recording in English.

Why she’s influential: She’s got non-Spanish speakers everywhere singing in la lengua de Cervantes, she’s helping (along with others) put Colombia on the musical map in the minds of non-Latinos, and we all want to know everything about her life. Her romances, her lovers’ quarrels, whatever…Shakira sneezes and it’s an international headline.

VOTE for Shakira as VL’s Most Influential Latino 2006