In a blinding celebration of Barranquilla’s beloved daughter, Shakira, the colourful Colombian city is unveiling a larger-than-life tribute to the international sensation. Despite the drama surrounding the tax investigations, the hometown stays focused on honoring her iconic contributions to the world of music and dance.
Shakira’s Parents Present For Monumental Belly Dancing Statue Unveiling
Standing tall at a formidable 21.3 feet and weighing a remarkable six tons, the statue captured the essence of the music icon, immortalizing her iconic hip-dance move.
Regardless that she couldn’t attend the ceremony personally, her parents, William Mebarak Chadid and Nidia del Carmen Ripoll Torrado, proudly represented her, as seen in the pictures shared on her Instagram page.
A plaque that beautifully encapsulated Shakira’s multifaceted legacy accompanied the awe-inspiring tribute. The translated inscription read partly, “A heart that composes, hips that don’t lie, an unmatched talent, a voice that moves masses and feet that march for the great of kids and humanity.”
To precise her excitement, Shakira wrote within 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 best artist Latin America ever had… Happy with you ❤️,” one fan stated, while one other chimed in, “That’s the sexiest statue I’ve ever seen 😍,” infusing a touch of admiration for the statue.
The thrill continued to surge as others showered the revealing with love and support. “WOW WHAT AN HONOR! ❤️😍 You Deserve It! ✨💫,” a loyal admirer exclaimed.
In one other post, Shakira shared a video of the revealing 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 yr, notably securing eight awards at Premios Juventud 2023 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Because the footage showed, the 46-year-old stunned in a classy red mini-dress while delivering a robust and heartfelt speech, expressing her gratitude for the honors bestowed upon her.
The highlight prolonged beyond her solo accomplishments as she humbly acknowledged the dedicated team on the Pies Descalzos Foundation, led by Patricia Sierra.
During her heartfelt speech, she delved into deeper issues, highlighting that while superficial facets like social media filters exist, they may not conceal the cruel reality that those born into poverty often find themselves trapped in a cycle attributable to restricted opportunities for quality education.
The actress also asserted that anyone may very well be an agent of change, encouraging the youth to strive for a greater world. In her translated caption, she conveyed a robust message: “To be an “agent of change” you only have to tell apart what is true from what’s incorrect, imagine that if it is feasible to vary things and never let anyone let you know otherwise, and that’s power. #PremiosJuventud.”
Shakira Shelled Out Tens of millions Amid Ongoing Legal Battles
In November, The Blast reported that the renowned musician found herself entangled in one more tax investigation by the Spanish government, allegedly paying hundreds of thousands on 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 recent challenges as prosecutors launched a fresh probe into one other 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 costs she admitted to between 2012 and 2014. It’s price noting that she had previously paid around $27 million for leniency in the sooner case.
Anonymous court sources, cited within the El Periodico report, speculated that the money may need been intended to secure leniency for Shakira once the investigation concluded.
Within the event of a positive end result within the investigation, the report noted the potential scenario of the “Every time, Wherever” singer forfeiting the $7 million while still facing charges.
