Shakira gave People magazine a warm public thank-you this week. She had just wrapped a photo shoot with one of the most celebrated portrait photographers in the business, and she wanted people to know she had a great time.
The Colombian pop star posted on Instagram to show her appreciation to the magazine and photographer Ruven Afanador. Her caption was brief: it was “a true pleasure.” Not a lot of words, but the warmth came through.
Afanador is one of the biggest names in celebrity portrait photography. The Colombian-born photographer has spent decades working with icons across music, fashion, and film. His work has appeared in major publications like Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair. His images feel cinematic and striking. Getting him on a shoot is a genuine get. The two also share Colombian roots. That’s a fun detail about this particular pairing.
People magazine and Shakira go back a long way. She’s one of the best-selling music artists in the world and a multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy winner. Her hits run from “Whenever, Wherever” to “Hips Don’t Lie.” Her 2023 track “Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53” was one of the fastest-climbing Spanish-language songs in Spotify history. She’s been in this industry for more than 30 years and keeps finding ways to stay relevant.
The last few years have been a real ride. Her 2024 album “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” (Women No Longer Cry) was partly inspired by her split from former FC Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué. It earned strong reviews and brought in a whole new wave of fans around the world. She’s come through it all sounding and looking very much like herself.
A People feature at this point in her career feels well-timed. The magazine has a knack for catching artists at the right moment. Shakira is very much in hers right now.
No cover reveal or issue date has been announced yet. The details of the shoot are still under wraps. That short thank-you and the credit to Afanador were more than enough to get people excited, though.
Afanador has worked with names like Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin. His portraits tend to be warm and full of character. The full People spread should be something worth waiting for.
Her Instagram post drew close to 415,000 likes. Comments poured in from fans all over the world, with responses in Spanish and English filling the thread. The mood was easy to read: everyone wants to see this shoot.
It was a quick post. But it landed with real warmth. Shakira has spent decades being genuine with her audience. That part of her hasn’t changed.
