Shakira, the renowned singer, may be a superstar in the music industry, but at home, her two sons, Milan, 11, and Sasha, 9, take center stage. The Colombian singer shares her boys with her ex-partner, Gerard Piqué, a former professional soccer player.
Despite their parents’ celebrity status, Milan and Sasha are being raised to have as normal a life as possible.
Giving Her Sons a Normal Life
In a 2015 interview with PEOPLE, Shakira confessed that parenting is the hardest thing she’s ever had to do. “It’s one of the most difficult things I’ve done in my life,” she said. “I’ve been on the most challenging stages performing in front of really demanding audiences and I’ve been meeting with world leaders who sometimes make you a little bit apprehensive, but nothing has made me so self-conscious as being a mom. … Every day I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. I just want to improve in the job, the hardest job on earth.”
Although Shakira and Piqué announced their separation in June 2022, they are committed to co-parenting their sons and providing them with a stable and loving environment. In an interview with ELLE, Shakira revealed that she tries to “conceal” the situation from her kids, saying, “I try to do it and to protect them, because that’s my number one mission in life.”
Shakira has been vocal about giving her sons a normal life, despite their parents’ celebrity status. In a 2021 interview with ET Canada, she said, “I can’t deny they can’t escape the reality that I’m a public person, as well as their dad.
But we try to provide as much normalcy as we can, and live really as very simple people.” This means not playing her own music at home, allowing her sons to develop their own interests and tastes.
Shakira’s 2 Boys
Milan Piqué Mebarak, 11
Milan, Shakira’s eldest son, was born on January 22, 2013, in Barcelona, Spain. His name, Milan, means “dear, loving, and gracious” in Slavic, and “eager and laborious” in Ancient Roman. The couple announced Milan’s birth on Shakira’s website, saying, “Just like his father, baby Milan became a member of FC Barcelona at birth.”
Milan has grown up to be a talented young boy, with interests in music, sports, and the arts. In 2021, Shakira revealed that Milan enjoys surfing and is a skilled pianist. She shared a video of Milan playing piano alongside another boy playing the violin, saying, “This virtual concert is Milan’s small homage to our dear Bela, who left teaching us both parents and children the love, respect, and devotion for one’s work, and how to make our kids feel that what they do is the most important thing in our world.”
Milan has also spent time in the studio with his megastar mom, and has even written his own songs to process his parents’ separation. In a 2024 interview with Zane Lowe, Shakira said, “I remember he wrote two beautiful songs during the whole separation process. He wrote two songs on piano and lyrics. And whenever he feels a little down, he goes to the piano and he writes. And that also is his catharsis, his therapy.”
Sasha Piqué Mebarak, 9
Sasha, Shakira’s youngest son, was born on January 29, 2015, in Barcelona, Spain. His name, Sasha, means “defender of mankind” and “warrior” in Greek and Russian. Following his birth, Shakira shared a photo of Sasha’s feet from the hospital, writing, “I have Daddy’s feet, it looks like I’ve been playing football my whole life.”
Sasha has grown up to be a sporty and artistic young boy, with interests in surfing, tennis, and karate. In 2021, Shakira posted an Instagram photo celebrating Sasha taking his first surfing lesson. He has also shown athletic prowess in tennis, shooting hoops, and walking down a slide. In 2017, Shakira shared a video of then-2-year-old Sasha playing tennis, shooting hoops, and walking down a slide with the caption, “My little athlete!”
In 2022, Shakira shared a video of Sasha winning first place in a martial arts tournament, joking, “Next time if they don’t want me to yell so much they’ll have to take me with a muzzle!” Months earlier, she shared a video of Sasha at another tournament, captioning the clip, “I’m the deranged woman screaming in the back.”
Sasha has also shown a creative side, designing the artwork for Shakira’s single “Monotonia” on his iPad. In an interview, Shakira said, “I didn’t like what the designers at Sony had created, and I asked Sasha what he thought about it.
He said, ‘No mami, let me do it,’ and he started making it on his iPad. He sent it to me and I sent it to people at Sony. I think kids have a special sensibility and I listen to them.”
FAQs
How old are Shakira’s sons?
Milan is 11 years old, and Sasha is 9 years old.
What was it like for Shakira’s sons after her split from Gerard Piqué?
It’s been an adjustment, but Shakira’s priority has been to protect them and provide a sense of stability, even while dealing with media attention.
Where do Shakira and her sons live now?
After years in Barcelona, Spain, Shakira and the boys relocated to Miami, Florida, in 2023.
