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Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 9, 1977 in Barranquilla, Columbia. The singer grew up in a poverty-stricken family. Her mother was a native Columbian and her father was of Lebanese descent. As a child, she listened to music from both her parent’s culture but also she enjoyed American Rock N’ Roll. Shakira’s favorite American bands and artists were Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, The Police, The Cure, and Nirvana. When she was eight years old, Shakira began writing her own music. At ten she was entering and winning talent competitions. At eleven, Shakira taught herself how to play the guitar. In 1990, when she was only 13 years old, Shakira moved to Bogota in hopes of getting a modeling contract. Instead, she got a record deal with Sony’s Columbia division.

Shakira’s debut album, Magia (Magic), was released in 1991. The songs were all written by Shakira. Although the album did not go international, it began a name for the young artist. In 1993, Shakira releas...