How Shakira is staying forever young at 46: from the MTV VMAs winner’s fitness routine including dancing, to her vigilant skincare regime and diet – and her dismissal of plastic surgery claims
After being in the biz for over 30 years, it seems like she hasn’t aged a day. A pic of her in her early 20s could pᴀss off as a pH๏τo of her now, at 46. And it’s not just her looks that keep her youthful, but her high energy too.
Recently at the MTV VMAs, where she won big alongside fellow pop icon Taylor Swift, the “Hips Don’t Lie” songstress put on an incredible show that involved dancing with knives, twisting through a fake cave and crowd-surfing her way towards accepting her Vanguard Award. And, of course, she looked fabulous doing it.
Maybe it’s good genes, maybe it’s a really good dieтιтian and trainer – either way, we want to know how she does it. Here’s a breakdown.
According to Hello! magazine, Shakira sticks to a strict diet that involves small, nutrient-rich meals to keep her energy up during the day. To prepare for a major performance like the Super Bowl, her trainer said that Shakira eliminates sugar and dairy, but eats everything else – including the occasional treat like dark chocolate – in moderation.
A typical breakfast can include eggs and avocado with a smoothie, then a fish dish for lunch, per Hello!
Shakira has always been extremely toned with rock-hard abs, and she has dancing to thank as one of the reasons she’s stayed so fit over the years.
According to Popsugar, Shakira’s trainer Anna Kaiser schedules in low-intensity sustained cardio sessions to keep her client busy – using a mix of cycling, treadmill and running to burn calories. The most important thing, Kaiser said, was to build strength, because “it takes a lot more effort [both exercise- and nutrition-wise] to maintain and build muscle over the age of 40”.
It’s hard to believe that Shakira is already in her mid-40s when she barely has a wrinkle to show for it. According to a video interview she did with beauty YouTuber Melanie Murphy, vitamin C and sunscreen are her two main products in her skincare routine.
“If I’m super dry, I also layer on vitamin E – I just get capsules from the pharmacy and squeeze it right onto my skin,” she told InStyle, “I also think it’s really important to remove your make-up every night, and I using a cleansing brush [or even a washcloth] to remove any impurities.”
Hello! magazine reported that the “Waka Waka” songstress doesn’t drink alcohol or caffeine, or smoke, which ultimately helps with keeping her skin youthful and plump.
“I feel like the less make-up I use, the better I look,” she told InStyle, “After so many years in front of the camera, sometimes I think I look better now than 10 years ago when I wore so much!”
A happy, healthy lifestyle
Despite being a mum of two (to Milan and Sasha, who she shares with her ex Gerard Piqué) and having a thriving career that’s kept her busy for the best of 30 years and counting, Shakira seems happier than ever.
From releasing new music and landing lucrative endorsement deals, to running her beauty portfolio with Shakira Perfumes, this Colombian talent is all smiles – and that would certainly help with keeping up a youthful life as impressive as hers. “A good smile shows off confidence, and that’s really the best make-up,” she once told InStyle.
