Shakira Honored With Huge Belly Dancing Statue In Her Hometown Barranquilla

In a dazzling celebration of Barranquilla's beloved daughter, Shakira, the vibrant Colombian city is unveiling a larger-than-life tribute to the international sensation. Despite the drama surrounding the tax investigations, the hometown remains focused on honoring her iconic contributions to the world of music and dance.

Standing tall at an impressive 21.3 feet and weighing a remarkable six tons, the statue captured the essence of the music icon, immortalizing her iconic hip-dance move.

Even though she could not attend the ceremony personally, her parents, William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado, proudly represented her, as seen in the images shared on her Instagram page.

A plaque that beautifully encapsulated Shakira's multifaceted legacy accompanied the awe-inspiring tribute. The translated inscription read in part, "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." 

To express her excitement, Shakira wrote in the caption of the post, "Ay y esta dedicatoria. Esto es demasiado para mi corazoncito." [Oh and this dedication. This is too much for my little heart.]

Fans expressed their overwhelming pride and admiration. "The greatest artist Latin America ever had... Proud of you ❤️," one fan stated, while another chimed in, "That's the sexiest statue I've ever seen 😍," infusing a touch of admiration for the statue. 

The excitement continued to surge as others showered the unveiling with love and support. "WOW WHAT AN HONOR! ❤️😍 You Deserve It! ✨💫," a devoted admirer exclaimed. 

In another post, Shakira shared a video of the unveiling ceremony alongside the caption, "Estoy muy emocionada por este homenaje a la mujer Colombiana y a las Barranquilleras dentro y fuera de mi tierra! 🇨🇴❤️." [I'm very excited about this tribute to Colombian woman and the Barranquilleras inside and outside my land! 🇨🇴❤️].

Before this monumental tribute, the "Hips Don't Lie" singer graced headlines multiple times this year, notably securing eight awards at Premios Juventud 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

As the footage showed, the 46-year-old stunned in a stylish red mini-dress while delivering a powerful and heartfelt speech, expressing her gratitude for the honors bestowed upon her.

The spotlight extended beyond her solo accomplishments as she humbly acknowledged the dedicated team at the Pies Descalzos Foundation, led by Patricia Sierra.

During her heartfelt speech, she delved into deeper issues, highlighting that while superficial aspects like social media filters exist, they could not conceal the harsh reality that those born into poverty often find themselves trapped in a cycle due to restricted opportunities for quality education.

The actress also asserted that anyone could be an agent of change, encouraging the youth to strive for a better world. In her translated caption, she conveyed a powerful message: "To be an "agent of change" you just have to distinguish what is right from what is wrong, believe that if it is possible to change things and not let anyone tell you otherwise, and that is power. #PremiosJuventud." 

In November, The Blast reported that the renowned musician found herself entangled in yet another tax investigation by the Spanish government, allegedly paying millions in this latest probe. 

After months of legal battles with the Spanish government, Shakira settled her infamous tax fraud case. Despite this resolution, the mother-of-two faced new challenges as prosecutors launched a fresh probe into another potential tax fraud incident. 

The specifics of the investigation were disclosed in a report by Spanish Newspaper El Periodico. 

The "Waka Waka" singer reportedly paid over $7 million for alleged tax fraud in 2018, separate from the charges she admitted to between 2012 and 2014. It is worth noting that she had previously paid around $27 million for leniency in the earlier case.

Anonymous court sources, cited in the El Periodico report, speculated that the cash might have been intended to secure leniency for Shakira once the investigation concluded. 

In the event of a positive outcome in the investigation, the report noted the potential scenario of the "Whenever, Wherever" singer forfeiting the $7 million while still facing charges.