Months after her split from retired soccer player Gerard Pique, international superstar Shakira opened up about her relationship and separation. The Colombian singer sat down for what appears to be her first TV interview (done in Spanish) since breaking up in June 2022 with Mexican journalist Enrique Acevedo, where she reflected on learning to feel whole on her own, and talked about her recent grief and how music helped her heal.
The 46-year-old singer expressed how her breakup was a brutally honest time in her life, and that she never felt supported by her friends and fans. She said, “Not all dreams come true in life. But life finds a way to make it up to you in some way.”
Shakira continued, “I have always been very emotionally dependent on men – I must admit this – I was in love,” adding that she once believed that women needed a man to feel complete.
She added, “Somehow, I’ve been able to learn it from another perspective and feel like I’ll be fine on my own. When a woman has to face hardships in life, she comes out stronger. And when she comes out stronger, it means she learns to recognize and accept her weaknesses.” Now, Shakira says she’s on her way and has managed to feel like she’s enough, something she “never thought would happen.”
She mentioned her two sons, Sasha, 8, and Milan, 10, whom she shares with Pique, 36. “I feel complete, because I feel I can depend on myself and I have two children who depend on me. I have to be stronger than the lion. That strength,” she said. “In order for it to be real and not a façade, it has to be the result of a lot of pain. Accept that pain and put up with the frustration because there are things in life that don’t turn out the way we want.” She added, “There are dreams that get shattered and we have to pick up the pieces and put them back together ourselves.”
Shakira and the soccer star announced they were going their separate ways in June, more than 11 years after confirming their relationship for the first time. “We regret to confirm our separation. We ask for privacy at this moment for the well-being of our two children, who are our highest priority. We thank you in advance for your understanding and respect,” the two said in a joint statement.