On Tuesday, Dec. 26, Grammy-winning artist Shakira, together with her family, unveiled a 21-foot-tall bronze statue commissioned in her honor by her hometown of Barranquilla in Colombia.
The statue was announced on the artist's Instagram account, wherein she wrote: "This is too much for my little heart," pertaining to the dedication plaque that celebrated her "voice that moved masses and feet that march for the good of childhood and humanity."
Coinciding with the unveiling ceremony was the birthday of her mother, Nidia Ripoll Torrado, as referenced by the artist in the caption, writing, "It makes me happy to share this with my parents."
The statue was created by Colombian sculptor Yino Márques, depicting the iconic swaying dance moves that the artist performed in her timeless music video of "Hips Don't Lie," which was first televised back in 2005.
Present during the unveiling is Barranquilla's mayor, Jaime Pumarejo Heins, who can be seen congratulating the pop icon's father, William Mebarak Chadid, in one of the photos accompanying the social media post.
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Shakira, Ever-Beloved by Her Home Country of Colombia
Shakira was also honored by Spotify when they crowned her as the EQUAL Global Ambassador last September, giving the artist her own "Shakira Day" reserved for the 29th of that same month.
The day-long "celebration" set for the artist was a result of the "Shakira Deserves a Day" campaign launched by her Colombian fanbase and after it went viral on social media platforms.
This adoration is in line with Shakira's title as the No.1 most-streamed female Latin artist in the entirety of Spotify's existence.
In the streaming platform's podcast dubbed "For the Record," Shakira said, "The role that my fans have played in my career is impossible to quantify. They've known how to understand me better than anybody, and they've carried me to where I am today with their unwavering support."
The artist also added that one of her key inspirations is her home country of Colombia, deeming that motivational force as something "immeasurable."
For Shakira, her nation's "colors, culture, sounds, stories, folklore, and food" will forever be her own personal "lifelong muse," something that she is "so grateful" for having been raised in.
