Shakira: Woman Full of Grace

Shakira, which in Arabic means "woman full of grace," is poised to become one of the biggest crossover successes in music history. She landed her first record deal when she was a mere thirteen years old, recorded her second album at sixteen, and starred in a popular soap opera-all before graduating from high school. She was only 19 when her third album, "Pies Descalzos ("Barefoot") made her the bestselling female rock star in Latin America, and the most promising one of the decade. Her fourth album, the gutsy, rock-infused "?Donde estan los ladrones?" ("Where are the thieves?") went platinum eight times in the US and earned countless awards for Shakira, including Latin Grammys for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Her tunes are melodic, musically surprising and gritty, with intellectual lyrics, and have assured her position as a pioneer who has redefined the scope of Latin American singers. Despite finding great success at such a young age, 23-year-old Shakira remains remarkably grounded, confounding the usual stereotypes associated with rock stars. She is a devout catholic, lives with her parents, and prefers to spend time with her family when not touring or recording. She is one of those rare stars that combine talent, charisma and boldness, and at the same time keeps her feet firmly planted on the ground. For the most exciting singer/songwriter to come out of Latin America since Ricky Martin, the possibilities are endless. For the millions that already buy her albums, Shakira represents the voice of a new generation.