Shakira breaks her silence on heartbreak: 'I Felt Worthless'

Since announcing her separation from Gerard Piqué in June 2022, Shakira has remained in the spotlight. Every lyric, appearance, and statement has been read as a reflection of her emotional journey. Now, during her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour in Latin America, the Colombian singer is speaking candidly. “Healing processes take many years,” she said in an interview with Mexico’s N+ channel with Danielle Dithurbide. 

© N+

© nicolasgerardin

Nearly three years after the end of her relationship with the former soccer player, the emotional weight still lingers. “I’ve learned that you can feel joy even while carrying pain—while living with a wound that won’t quite heal,” said Shakira. Then, painting a vivid metaphor, she added, “It’s like when you’re at a party and your feet hurt, but you keep dancing anyway.”

© N+

That image captures the emotional duality that has shaped her path: dancing through the pain, embracing joy without denying sorrow. Shakira admitted there were moments along the way when she felt “small” or questioned her self-worth. But during those moments, the people who truly mattered made a significant difference. “That’s when friends, family, and real people step in—to remind you of your value and that you’re capable of more than you know.”

© N+

While she never mentions Piqué by name, it’s clear that the breakup fueled much of her reflection—and her creative resurgence. “Everyone has their own way of rebuilding,” she said. “For me, writing songs helped lift a huge weight off my shoulders. It’s a cathartic process.” For the singer of “Acróstico,” songwriting isn’t just artistic expression—it’s a sanctuary.

Over the past few years, music has become her emotional outlet. Some lyrics resonate deeply, while others adopt a more symbolic approach, all deeply rooted in personal experience. At another point in the conversation, she mused, “For every person in the world who isn’t what you hoped, there are many more who will surprise you.” A quiet nod to resilience and to the unexpected kindnesses that carry us forward.

© GC Images

Reinvention, for Shakira, has also meant reconnecting with a powerful self-image she’s referenced before: the she-wolf. “Being a she-wolf means being loyal, being a real friend, being a protective mother, and being an enterprising and hardworking woman,” she explained. With pointed clarity, she added, “We give more to our families than our partners do—more work, more effort, more of ourselves.”

© AFP via Getty Images

Piqué has kept a lower profile, rarely addressing the past in public. On the other hand, Shakira continues to write, sing, and share her truth with an audience that sees strength in her vulnerability. Through heartbreak, through reinvention, through songs that echo far beyond the stage—she has found in her music not just a voice, but a lifeline.