EXCLUSIVE – Shakira, World Cup star: “From the age of 10, I knew I was going to make a living from music.”

By Jérôme Goulon.

Shakira is one of the big stars of the 2026 World Cup. Her title Come on come onThe anthem of this edition, Shakira, resonates in the stadiums at the start of each match. The Colombian singer launched the competition by participating in the opening ceremony held in Mexico City, then followed the tournament from the stands, where she attended several matches with her sons, attracting everyone's attention. Shakira will return to the stage this Sunday for the final between Spain and Argentina. Twenty years after her first appearance at a World Cup in 2006 in Germany and 16 years since her famous... Waka WakaThe singer, who has been the soundtrack to four editions of the competition and several generations of fans, thus confirms her special place in World Cup history. Exceptional longevity and popularity. InterviewsWe were lucky enough to interview the star several times. A star who speaks her mind freely, with a frankness and naturalness that explain why she captivates audiences worldwide. As the World Cup draws to a close, (re)discover the iconic interview we conducted with Shakira. Absolutely incredible!

Interview: You are an international star even though you were born in a small town in Colombia…
Shakira: Yes, I know, it's truly exceptional! (Laughs) But I had a certain talent for singing, and from the age of 10, I knew I was going to make a living from music. My family believed in me immensely. My father didn't hesitate to use all his money to produce my first albums. I remember when I told them I wanted to become a successful singer, they were just as excited as I was! (Laughs)

It wasn't necessarily an easy time for you…
No. One of my worst memories is my parents' bankruptcy. Their jewelry stores were robbed, and to make matters worse, my father was involved with a con artist and fell victim to him. I've often said that my father is the only Lebanese person in the world incapable of negotiating anything! (Laughs)

Is it since then that you haven't worn any jewelry?
Yes, it's true. I hate jewelry; I find it incredibly pretentious to wear it. Well, in Colombia, that's the case. Parading around in beautiful jewelry and walking past a beggar who hasn't eaten all day creates a dramatic contrast. It's really unnecessary.

Let's get back to your career. Is it true that you sang in a hotel corridor in front of a Sony executive to land your first contract?
(Laughs) That's pretty much what happened. Knowing that the guy from Sony was staying in a hotel near my place, I grabbed my radio and summoned my courage. I was only 13 years old, and it was a golden opportunity to get my start in the business. He must have been stunned, but it worked! (Laughs) Thanks to my audacity, I landed a contract for three albums!

Did you achieve success immediately?
Not really. I had a small hit with one of my songs, but my first two albums flopped, and my record label put a lot of pressure on me. They were about to drop me. So, I worked like crazy, traveled all over South America promoting my new CD on the radio, and hit the jackpot. I was a huge success, even in the United States; I was so proud.

"For a long time, I struggled to accept myself, even after I became a recognized artist."

You are also known as a sex symbol. Did you always know that your beauty would help you achieve success?
No. For a long time, I struggled to accept myself, even after I became a recognized artist. And then one day, I saw myself in the mirror and told myself I needed to change. First, I dyed my hair red, then blonde… That said, from my twenties to my thirties, I suffered a lot because I thought I was too short, my legs not long enough, and I was too fat… I wasn't feeling great! (Laughs)

That's truly amazing!
I'm not an alien! (Laughs) This is the kind of thing that a large majority of women face. Fortunately, I've realized that I'm quite attractive and can be very seductive!

In the end, do you feel like you owe everything to your physical appearance?
No. I still consider looks and appearance to be secondary. And perhaps it's because I think that I've had longevity. It's true that people who watch my videos might not know that the "girly girl" who dances is also the one who composes…

In one of your albums, you compared your breasts to mountains…
I love making fun of myself. Self-deprecation is wonderful. I laugh at my frustrations, my insecurities, my vices, my virtues. It's quite a personal form of therapy!

Do you have insecurities?
No, I'm not the kind of girl who crosses her arms to hide her breasts! (Laughs) But I've already dreamed of having bigger breasts.

South American women love a curvy bottom. What about you?
(Laughs) It's true that Latin American girls love that. It's a beauty standard. They're ready to do anything to have a nice, round bottom. Me, I have enough to sit on, I love my butt! I love it just the way it is. But I take care of it.

So, what did your family and friends think of your sexy videos?
(Laughs) Sometimes my family was shocked by the outfits I wore in my videos. But I think they were very surprised to see that I could finally do the splits because I wasn't wearing too many clothes! (Laughs) I must admit that having sculpted my body is a significant advantage.

What is your reaction to certain criticisms that said your videos or concerts are too "sexualized"?
I don't understand them. When I dance on stage, I feel free. And freedom can be psychological, sexual, and political. My body is the visible expression of the energy I put into my music. I don't dance to be sexy, but to express my emotions.

"The stage remains such an immense joy that I could never stop!"

Is it a daily effort to maintain such a toned body?
I do keep myself in shape, but when I'm on tour, I don't need to because the physical exertion is so intense. The stage remains such an immense joy that I could never stop!

What is the secret to your incredible longevity?
If I knew her, I'd sell her to make even more money! Actually, I've always worked hard since the day I decided to become a singer. Like I was saying, ever since I was little, I've believed in my destiny; I always knew I was going to be a public figure.

So you weren't surprised by your success?
I found it so natural that I wasn't surprised when I heard my songs on the radio. Even at 13!

Today, teenage girls are becoming sexy at an increasingly younger age. What do you think?
There's nothing wrong with that. There's nothing wrong with girls wanting to be attractive! They're simply discovering the woman within them. It's normal. And I prefer that to tomboys. Now, being sexy isn't the same as being sensual, and being sensual is different from being sexual…

When you're a global superstar like you, it can't always have been easy to keep your private life private…
It's true that it's difficult, but that's no reason to flaunt it! Acting like that is the only way to gain respectability. I only show what I choose to show… and that's already a lot!