'Queen of Colombia': Internet hails Shakira as singer is honored with statue in her hometown

BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA: Global music icon Shakira was bestowed with the ultimate honor in her hometown this week - a 21-foot bronze statue capturing her signature dance move from the legendary 'Hips Don't Lie' music video.

The larger-than-life statue was unveiled on Tuesday, December 26, in Barranquilla, where the Colombian singer grew up before she rose to international fame. It depicts Shakira mid-dance, with her hips swiveling and arms outstretched, as reported by People.

Shakira's monumental tribute in hometown coincides with mother's birthday

In an Instagram post announcing the statue, Shakira shared that the unveiling coincided with her mother Nidia Ripoll Torrado’s birthday - making it an especially emotional event for her family.

"It makes me happy to share this with my parents and especially my mother on her birthday,” she wrote, alongside a photo of her parents beaming at the foot of the massive artwork.

The Grammy winner thanked the city and artist Yino Marquez, who brought the project to life over the last two years after being chosen through a public bid.

Shakira remains deeply connected to her Colombian roots despite global fame

The larger-than-life bronze figure is located on the iconic waterfront Malecon del Rio, ensuring it will be seen by locals and visitors alike as a celebratory symbol of their city’s most famous daughter.

At the base is an inscription honoring Shakira’s global contributions. “A heart that composes, hips that do not lie, an unmatched talent, a voice that moves masses and bare feet that march for the good of childhood and humanity,” it reads.

"This is too much for my little heart,” the superstar songstress remarked on social media. Even after selling over 95 million records worldwide and becoming one of the top Latin artists ever, Shakira remains deeply connected to her roots.

“Colombia is a never-ending source of inspiration - for colors, culture, sounds, stories, folklore, and food,” she said in a recent interview. “It’s such a rich culture and I’m so grateful to have been raised where I was and have it be my lifelong muse.”

Internet reacts with outpouring of admiration to Shakira's larger-than-life bronze figure

As news of the monumental tribute to Shakira spread across the internet, an outpouring of admiration flooded social media platforms.

One user exclaimed, "Oh wow, see what happens when you're a legend!" while another chimed in, calling it "a wonderful tribute to a global icon." Expressing sheer excitement, a third user simply wrote, "Yeaaaaaaaaah," while someone else hailed Shakira as the "Queen of Colombia."

Adding to the chorus of admiration, another user lauded, "That's fantastic news! Shakira's contributions to music and culture are truly noteworthy." Amid the overwhelming acclaim, a sixth user summed it up succinctly, simply writing, "Amazing."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.