Shakira has been one of the biggest music superstars in the world for two decades, signing her first record deal at just 13. Did the singer find the time to go to college?
Shakira did attend college, though not straight out of high school. She attended courses in the US, years after she had already become a star. In particular, she attended classes in Western history at UCLA but didn’t earn a grade, then later completed a distance learning course with the University of Pennsylvania.
For more on Shakira’s periods of study in the US, read on.
Early Education
Shakira signed her first record deal at just 13 years old and has been in the music business ever since.
Her only hiatus in her early career followed the 1993 release of her second studio album, “Peligro”, which Shakira was notoriously unhappy with due to its production. She refused to promote the album’s release and it was a commercial failure.
Sensibly, Shakira used the downtime after the release to take a hiatus from music and complete her high school education.
In 1995 she returned to recording and released her third album “Pies Descalzos”, which was the last album on her original contract with Sony and described as a “last chance” for the young singer to succeed with the label.
The album was a huge success across the Spanish speaking world and Shakira has never looked back.
Undercover Student
Despite finding monumental success so early in life, Shakira has never been one to rest on her laurels. In addition to being able to speak four languages fluently, she also has a passion for knowledge.
Perhaps people shouldn’t have been surprised when, in 2007, it was revealed Shakira had attended a month-long course at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Fresh from touring, the then 30-year-old was a frequent attendee at lectures for a UCLA course called “Introduction to Western Civilization: Ancient Civilizations from Prehistory to Circa A.D. 843”.
The name might be a mouthful but it’s consistent with Shakira’s years of personal study, with her manager saying that she has always been keen to learn about the history and languages of anywhere she visits.
Far from wanting to receive special treatment as a celebrity student, the music icon was inconspicuous throughout the course. Robert Cleve, the course lecturer, shared that he hadn’t recognized Shakira’s celebrity status and was told she was simply visiting from Colombia and wanted to learn during her stay.
Her attempts to stay low key included dressing in baggy clothing and using her middle name, Isabel, instead of Shakira. When asked by suspicious students whether or not she was Shakira, the singer stuck to her story and gave her name as Isabel.
Shakira was auditing the class and did not sit exams or receive a grade, missing the last few lectures of the course. Her attendance was for enjoyment and enlightenment, she told Cleve, and ultimately it isn’t as though she needs an academic certificate in order to be successful.
The course leader did say that Shakira was always keen to discuss the course material with him after lectures and that he was “really impressed with how intelligent she was”.
More recently, during 2020’s lengthy lockdown, Shakira completed a month long-distance learning course on ancient philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. The course was focused on Ancient Greek philosopher Plato and his predecessors.
This time, Shakira did complete the entire course and posted a selfie, proudly holding her certificate.
Although a difficult time for many, the lockdown provided Shakira an opportunity to slow down and take a second taste of the college life she missed out on in her youth.
Shakira isn’t bitter about missing out on student life but she says she’s keen to make the most of any opportunity to experience academia.