A massive bronze monument of the Grammy-winning Colombian singer Shakira, one of the best-selling musicians in the world, is located in her hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia. It features Shakira in her iconic belly-dancing posture.
The singer’s parents were present when the 6.5 meter (21 foot) sculpture was revealed on Tuesday in a park near the banks of the Magdalena River by the city’s mayor, Jaime Pumarejo.
Pumarejo stated that he had seen Shakira perform at neighborhood children’s concerts and that the monument, created by artist Yino Marquez, “shows millions of girls that they can, that they can pursue their dreams and any of them can achieve what they want.” The sculpture depicts the long, curly-haired diva in a transparent skirt adorned with shining aluminum while she belly dances with her arms raised.
The singer, who won three Latin Grammy Awards in 2023, is praised on a plaque that mentions her charity, “Pies descalzos,” which translates to “bare feet,” for the growth of young children. “A heart that composes, hips that do not lie, an unmatched talent, a voice that moves masses and feet that march for the good of children and humanity,” it begins.
Shakira, a Miami resident, expressed her gratitude for the statue and her unwavering commitment to Barranquilla in a statement released by the mayor’s office.
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