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The
city's Mayor Jaime Pumarejo unveiled the 6.5 meter (21 foot)
sculpture in a park along the banks of the Magdalena River on
Tuesday in the company of the singer's parents.
The statue by artist Yino Marquez "shows millions of girls that
they can, that they can pursue their dreams and any of them can
achieve what they want," said Pumarejo, noting that he used to
see Shakira sing at local children's concerts.
The sculpture shows the long, curly haired singer belly dancing
with her arms overhead, in a sheer skirt with shiny aluminum
decoration.
A plaque praises the singer, who won three 2023 Latin Grammy
Awards, and cites her charity "Pies descalzos," Spanish for
"bare feet," for early childhood development.
"A heart that composes, hips that do not lie, an unmatched
talent, a voice that moves masses and feet that march for the
good of children and humanity," it reads.
Shakira, who lives in Miami, said in a statement from the
mayor's office that she was honored by the statue and that
Barranquilla will always be her home.
(Reporting by Camilo Cohecha, Javier Andres Rojas and Herbert
Villarraga; Writing by Julia Symmes Cobb and Richard Chang)
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