Shakira thrills fans on Rio's Copacabana beach

RIO DE JANEIRO

Latin pop queen Shakira delighted crowds of two million that packed Rio's famed Copacabana beach under a full moon on May 2, delivering fan-favorite hits and words of love for Brazil.

The 49-year-old Colombian superstar took the stage dressed in Brazil's national colors shortly after 11 p.m., more than an hour behind schedule, heralded by drones overhead forming the image of a she-wolf Shakira's nickname.

"Brazil, I love you! It's magical to think that here we are, millions of souls together, ready to sing, dance, be moved and remind the world what really matters," Shakira told the crowd in Portuguese.

"Two million people. The she-wolf made history in Rio," city mayor Eduardo Cavaliere wrote on X, citing the official tourism body.

The beach has hosted the biggest divas in pop in recent years, with Madonna striking a pose for 1.6 million in 2024 and Lady Gaga singing her greatest hits to 2.1 million fans last year.

Shakira on Saturday performed hits such as "Hips Don't Lie," "La Bicicleta," " La Tortura" and "Estoy Aqui" on a huge stage outside the legendary Copacabana Hotel measuring 1,345 square meters (14,500 square feet).

The concert, featuring 10 outfit changes, saw Shakira performing local-style funk with Brazilian pop star Anitta, and featured guests including Brazilian pop music legends Caetano Veloso and Maria Bethania.

With more than 90 million records sold, four Grammys, 15 Latin Grammys and a generation-spanning repertoire including bangers "Hips Don't Lie," "Waka Waka" and "Whenever, Wherever," Shakira enjoys unique popularity in Brazil, where she has performed numerous times.

Shakira's 2025 tour kicked off in Rio and has already earned a Guinness World Record for highest-grossing tour for a Latin artist.

Rio has been readying for the concert for days, with huge posters blanketing the city.

Copacabana vendors were busy hawking beer, caipirinhas, t-shirts and little vials of "Shakira's tears," a nod to her current "Women No Longer Cry" tour.

City officials estimated the event would inject more than $160 million into the local economy.