Shakira

“The ALAS Foundation was born as a consequence and a continuation of what we are doing with Pies Descalzos. I started the Pies Descalzos foundation in Colombia when I was 18, and since then, I have been very involved in the crusade for education.”

“I wish that one of my children will be like the Australian guy from the Discovery Channel show. The crocodile hunter.”

“My brain, I believe, is the most beautiful part of my body.”

“Brazil is a country I hold very dearly. I've got followers there who I've been interacting with for years, as well as fellow artists like Ivete Sangalo, and it also has huge figures like Pele. I'd love to go to that World Cup - I'm not sure in what capacity, but I'll definitely be there. I know that nobody wants to miss it, least of all me.”

“Gerard doesn't tell me what to do. We discuss everything as a couple, as I imagine most partners do. We have a beautiful relationship and one of mutual trust.”

“I'm convinced that promoting sport is an intelligent way of educating our children.”

“When we were in the Dark Ages, it was a question of humanity somehow managing to forget about itself. We put God in the centre of society, and people forgot about their own nature and desires. There was a huge deal of repression.”

“If I can contribute to people having fun, I would feel very fulfilled as an artist.”

“In this life, to earn your place you have to fight for it.”

“All through my twenties, I spent more time worrying what I didn't have than thinking about what I did have. I wished that I was taller, had longer legs, slimmer hips, a smaller bottom, even straighter hair.”

“Colombia is not how people think it is. We used to eat fish every Sunday at the beach. In the town where I grew up, people did not tell lies.”

“Because of you, I'm running out of reasons to cry.”

“'Elixir' means magical potion, so I wanted to depict the kind of bottle that was used in ancient times, but that looked modern and chic as well. I also wanted it to have a golden tint to evoke the memories of sands and sunsets.”

“Everyone can know what is in my heart because I find it hard to conceal myself.”

“I'm a closet nerd. I love to study history and visit museums.”

“I know what I'm doing even when I'm wearing a pencil skirt.”

“Writing songs has a therapeutic effect, and it either kills off love or wins the heart of the lover.”

“I am trying to make my accent so it won't bother anyone, but I am not going to drive myself crazy trying to pretend I am an American girl when I am from Colombia.”

“I've shaken hands with every radio station, from Honduras to Ryan Seacrest's.”

“I always believed that women have rights and that there are some women that are intelligent enough to claim those rights. There are some others that are stupid enough not to.”