Shakira Receives Recognition with a 21-Foot Bronze Statue in Her Hometown of Colombia.

This week, a remarkable event unfolded in Barranquilla, Colombia, as a 21-foot tall bronze statue of the renowned artist Shakira was revealed. The statue captures her iconic pose from the "Hips Don't Lie" music video. In a touching tribute, the monument's base features a plaque recognizing her outstanding contributions.

The inscription on the plaque reads, 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.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Shakira, a multi-Grammy Award winner at 46, expressed her emotions in a social media post, stating, "This is too much for my little heart," in response to the dedication.

During the ceremony, Shakira expressed her joy at having her parents present, especially on her mother's birthday. She extended gratitude to the statue's sculptor, Yino Marquez, and the students from a local arts school, praising the "enormous artistic talent of people from my land.

According to Marquez, over 30 individuals collaborated on the statue, completing it in five months. He shared details about the intricate design, mentioning, "If you look at it closely, her dress transforms into waves that were made of aluminium. They are symbols of the message I wanted to portray. It's the river and the sea because Shakira is the river and the sea; she's Barranquilla.

The mayor of Barranquilla emphasized that the statue goes beyond being a tribute to Shakira; it serves as a "message to all the girls and teenagers of Barranquilla and the Caribbean. Mayor Jaime Pumarejo conveyed the significance of Shakira's achievements, stating, "They can dream big and achieve it. She conquered what she imagined. She turned into the most important Spanish-language singer and she taught herself how to speak English. She has showed us great feats can be done in the Colombian Caribbean.

Shakira, known as the "Queen of Latin Music," boasts an impressive record with three Grammy Awards, winning Best Latin Pop Album twice and Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album. Remarkably, she holds the second-highest number of Latin Grammys for any female artist, totaling 14.

However, Shakira has faced recent legal challenges. In the past month, she managed to strike a last-minute deal on the first day of her tax fraud trial in Barcelona, avoiding the potential of imprisonment. As part of the agreement, Shakira will receive a suspended three-year sentence and is required to pay a fine of 7.3 million euros ($8 million). Additionally, she will pay another fine of 432,000 euros ($472,000), allowing her sentence to be waived.