Latin-pop International superstar Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 9, 1977, in the Colombian city of Barranquilla. Leaving her poverty-stricken family at the young age of 13 to become somebody. Shakira moved to Bogota to become a model and instead emerged with a recording contract for Sony Music International. Her debut album Magia, released in 1991 when she was just 14, consisted entirely of self-written songs. Like its successor Peligro, these album's weren't very successful. So Shakira turned instead to acting; she appeared on the Colombian daytime soap-opera El Oasis beginning in 1994, but returned to music the following year.

Shakira recorded Pies Descalzos in 1995, and its initial popularity appeared quite fleeting. Several months after the album's release, however, the single "Estoy Aqui" gained massive airplay around Latin America. It eventually hit number one on the Billboard's Latin Music charts, as did its follow-up, "Donde Estas Corazon?" Three additional singles -- "Antologia," "Pienso en Ti," "Un Poco de Amor" "Se Quiere, Se Mata" -- reached the Top Ten and Pies Descalzos the album hit the top spot in eight different countries, selling over four million copies. Donde Estan Los Ladrones? followed in late 1998. With the album debuting right in at number 1 on Billboard's Latin Music charts & on the Billboard Top 10 Heetseekers were it remained in the top 10 Heatseekers for months! The first single "Ciega, Sordomuda" Debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 100 Latin singles charts.