Shakira

This photogenic Colombian singer began her recording career at the tender age of 13. It wasn't long before her eclectic brand of Latin pop became a sensation in numerous Spanish-speaking countries. In 1998, without making the concession of singing in English, Shakira exploded in the rest of the world with her album DONDE ESTAN LOS LADRONES? With echoes of everything from Sheryl Crow to Alanis Morissette, the sensual singer became a worldwide phenomenon. Her subsequent release (after an MTV UNPLUGGED album in 2000) LAUNDRY SERVICE found Shakira venturing into English-language lyrics for the first time, expanding her fanbase even further.

• pop