LatinNews Daily - 23 September 2008

Who is she? A Colombian singer-songwriter, Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll (known as Shakira) is one of today's best-known Latin American celebrities. She is of Colombian and Lebanese descent, though her mother had Spanish and Italian ancestors. As well as Spanish, she speaks fluent English, Portuguese, Italian and some Arabic (her name means "thankful" in Arabic). She is an internationally-known musician, dancer, record producer and philanthropist. Forbes magazine this year ranked her the 4th richest woman in the global music industry after Madonna, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion. In mid-2008 she signed a 10-year contract with the concert promoters Live Nation in a deal worth an estimated $70-$100 million.

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