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Shakira’s breakup with Gerard Piqué marked the end of a significant chapter, but it has also ignited a profound period of personal transformation for the global star. After more than a decade together, their separation in June 2022 was more than just a public split—it was an unraveling of a deeply intertwined life. At the 2025 Grammy Awards, where she was honored with Best Latin Pop Album, Shakira did not shy away from addressing the emotional depth of her journey. Speaking candidly, she acknowledged that life hadn’t always been kind but affirmed her resilience with a subtle yet powerful nod to her own legacy, saying, “The she-wolf is still here.” It was a statement of strength, one that underscored not only her survival but her evolution.
Their romance, which began in the glow of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, had all the makings of a fairytale. Meeting on the set of her vibrant “Waka Waka” video, the chemistry between Shakira and Piqué was immediate. The couple soon became a fixture in both entertainment and sports media, building a home and a family together with their sons Milan and Sasha. Despite that, Shakira had always kept a certain independence in perspective, once revealing her fear of marriage and preference for remaining in the space of a girlfriend, embracing the unknown rather than being confined by convention.
But by mid-2022, that vibrant foundation crumbled. Reports of Piqué living separately surfaced, and speculation intensified when his relationship with Clara Chia Marti became public. Shakira was blindsided. As she revealed later, she discovered his betrayal while simultaneously dealing with her father’s serious health crisis. That dual heartbreak created an emotional weight she carried in silence at first, then began processing through her music—songs that subtly and overtly addressed themes of betrayal, heartbreak, and feminine strength.
In the aftermath, Shakira has chosen to embrace vulnerability as a source of power. She’s been transparent about the sacrifices she made throughout the relationship, especially putting her career on hold to support Piqué’s footballing dreams. Yet, rather than dwelling in bitterness, she has reframed her experience as one of self-reclamation. In interviews, she has spoken of rediscovering her autonomy, of finally stepping into her own fullness. She is no longer living in someone else’s shadow but reclaiming her space as a mother, artist, and woman—on her own terms.
Today, Shakira stands as a symbol not just of pop brilliance, but of endurance. The sheen of their past romance has faded, but what remains is the quiet, commanding strength of a woman who chose herself. The she-wolf, indeed, is not only still here—she’s stronger than ever.