Shakira Starts Strong
Opening her exhilarating medley of hits with the iconic “She Wolf,” Colombian superstar Shakira made a dazzling entrance inside a human-sized cube. She mesmerized the audience with her trance-like yoga poses, seamlessly transitioning from robotic-like movements to fluid motions.
Electro-Pop Energy
Dressed in a shimmering flesh-toned outfit, Shakira swiftly shifted gears to her electro-pop hit “Te Felicito,” a 2022 collaboration with Rauw Alejandro. Joined by four talented male backup dancers, she added even more energy to her performance, electrifying the stage and the crowd.
A Nostalgic Tango
One of the medley’s standout moments featured Shakira recreating her iconic 2006 VMAs performance with an extended version of “Objection (Tango).” Surrounded by percussionists with tribal-inspired rhythms forming a captivating drum circle, Shakira showcased her magnetic star power. She even picked up an electric guitar, unleashing powerful chords that resonated with the audience.
Hips Don’t Lie and Latin Grooves
By the time Shakira got to “Hips Don’t Lie,” the entire crowd was on its feet, and even Taylor Swift couldn’t resist showing off some Latin-style dance moves from her seat. Shakira concluded her performance with her hit “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53,” prompting the audience to roar the lyrics in Spanish: “Las mujeres ya no lloran, las mujeres facturan!” (“Women no longer cry, women cash in!”).
A Remarkable Return
During her set, Shakira even crowd-surfed, and a traditional Colombian sombrero was bestowed upon her by an enthusiastic fan. This VMAs performance marked her return to the stage since 2006.
Historic Award and Heartfelt Thanks
Shakira made history at the VMAs by becoming the first South American artist to receive the prestigious Video Vanguard Award. She is only the second Latin artist to achieve this honor, following Jennifer Lopez in 2018.
Expressing her gratitude to MTV, Shakira acknowledged her long-standing relationship with the network, dating back to when she was just 18 years old. She also gave a special mention to key figures who contributed to her music videos, including Jaume de Laiguana and Maite Marcos, whom she affectionately referred to as friends and collaborators. In Spanish, she expressed, “I wouldn’t know what to do without you.”
Shakira extended her appreciation to her record label Sony Music and its collaborators, as well as her parents and her sons, Milan and Sasha, who were present at the ceremony. She thanked them “for making me happy and making me feel that mom can do anything.” Finally, she dedicated the award to her devoted fans, whom she called her “army” and thanked for supporting her through all her battles. In Spanish, she concluded, “This is for you, my people… Thank you for inspiring me and for injecting me with so much strength and so much desire to keep going.”