Massive sculpture of Shakira revealed in her birthplace Barranquilla

In Barranquilla, the hometown of Colombian singer Shakira, a new bronze statue of the artist has been revealed. The statue stands at a height of 6.5 meters (21.3 feet) and depicts Shakira in a signature dance move, famously featured in her Hips Don't Lie music video. The singer took to Instagram to share photos of her parents posing in front of the statue. Shakira's popularity was evident as she was one of the most searched names on Google this year. The unveiling of the statue took place after a year filled with significant events for the singer, including the release of a song about her former partner Gerard Piqué, which broke YouTube records in Latin America, and the settlement of a tax fraud case in Spain. Shakira's parents and the mayor of Barranquilla were present at the ceremony. The statue carries a plaque that praises Shakira for her unique talents, successful career, and charitable work through her foundation, "Pies descalzos," which promotes early childhood development. Shakira expressed gratitude to the sculptor, Yino Márquez, and his students for their tremendous artistic talent displayed in creating the bronze statue. It was a successful year for Shakira in 2023, as she won three Latin Grammy awards, one of them alongside fellow Colombian artist Karol G.