Facebook Names Shakira As The Most Popular Celebrity With 100million Likes

Colombian singer Shakira has become the world’s most liked celebrity on Facebook, setting the record with over 100million fans, coming ahead of Rihanna and Eminem, who have a respective 91.9 million and 89 million likes.

According to a statement released by Facebook on Monday, 21 July, 2014, with over 100 million likes, Shakira’s facebook account is the second most-liked page behind Facebook’s own page.

It was gathered that Shakira joined Facebook in 2007 and has a comfortable lead on her fellow pop stars, trailed by Eminem (91.9 million), Rihanna (89.1 million), Michael Jackson (76.9 million) and Katy Perry (72.5 million). A photo of the singer standing in the Maracanã football stadium in Brazil, where she performed at the closing ceremony of the World Cup 2014, has become her most popular post with 3.6 million likes.

Shakira released her 10th album this year, the self-titled Shakira, to positive critical reception, though it peaked at number 14 in the UK album charts. The album has received Diamond sales certification in her native Colombia however, with 200,000 units sold.

Speaking on the success of her social media page, Shakira said: "I am honoured and humbled about reaching this milestone, because it’s one that’s purely about connecting with my fans from all parts of the globe. Social media and specifically Facebook has helped myself and other artists bridge the gap between the stage and the audience. We’ve been able to create a conversation, where both artists and fans can share with one another their thoughts, achievements, the most important moments of their lives in photographs and videos, and have a real, ongoing dialogue."

Also commenting, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook, wrote on Shakira’s wall, saying: "Congrats! What an amazing milestone for an amazing person."

The songwriter’s full name is Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll and she was born on 2 February, 1977. Shakira is currently in a relationship with the Spanish football player Gerard Pique, defender for FC Barcelona and Spain.