Shakira admits she never knew her own strength until Piqué walked out of her life: "Life is a bi*** but worth living"

For Shakira, the past few years have been defined as much by personal hardship as professional triumph. The Colombian superstar has faced a public breakup, a prolonged legal dispute in Spain and relentless media attention, yet she now finds herself entering one of the strongest phases of her career. Speaking candidly about that journey, the 49-year-old singer reflected on how adversity reshaped her understanding of herself, revealing that the challenges she endured ultimately exposed a strength she never knew she had.Shakira's comments arrive at a moment when her career is once again reaching new heights. While preparing for a packed summer that includes major tour dates and a historic FIFA World Cup final halftime performance, she looked back on the period that followed her split from former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué.The breakup in 2022 became one of the most scrutinized celebrity separations in recent memory. At the same time, Shakira was navigating a lengthy tax dispute in Spain that kept her in headlines for reasons far removed from music.Rather than allowing those events to define her, she used them as a source of growth.“I always thought that I was more fragile or weaker than what life proved me to be,” Shakira said in a recent interview. Reflecting on difficult moments, she added, “Through those challenging moments, I discovered how resilient we all are. And I truly admire so many women that just have to push forward every day, push forward through hardship or through whatever life throws at them.”The singer believes every setback carries value, even when the lessons arrive through pain. “Behind every experience in life, there’s always a lesson, and we have to be grateful for all those lessons, even for the people that leave you with scars,” she said. “Because they just make us better.”That mindset has fueled a remarkable professional resurgence. Her music connected deeply with listeners during a period of personal upheaval, helping launch a new chapter built on honesty and self-expression.While her music became an outlet, Shakira says motherhood remained the foundation that kept her moving forward. The singer shares sons Milan and Sasha with Piqué, and she described parenthood as a transformative force during her toughest days.“I think motherhood makes you strong,” said Shakira. “I feel that the moment I became a mother, I saw life through a different perspective. They are true teachers. I learned so much from them every day."She recalled the reality of balancing emotional challenges with everyday responsibilities.“When your world collapses and you have to get up and pay the bills, and still provide for your family, and still prepare breakfast, and take your kids to school—life needs to go on because you have the responsibility to watch after two human beings. Seeing my kids also overcome those difficulties, that also fills my heart.”Her reflections come shortly after a favorable ruling involving Spain's tax authorities and ahead of a busy stretch on the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour. Another major milestone awaits on July 19, when she joins Madonna and BTS for the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show at MetLife Stadium.For Shakira, the upcoming moment feels symbolic. Soccer has played a defining role in both her personal and professional life, from the global success of “Waka Waka” to the relationship that began during the 2010 World Cup. Yet her focus today is broader than past chapters.“Life is beautiful in spite of all the pain that we all go through. It is what it is,” she said. “Like they say: ‘Life is a bitch,’ but it's so worth living it, you know?”