With the FIFA World Cup officially underway, Shakira has unexpectedly sparked a wave of body-double rumors after her performance at the tournament’s opening ceremony left some fans convinced it wasn’t actually her on stage.
The Colombian superstar performed the tournament’s official anthem, “Dai Dai,” during the June 11 opening ceremony in Mexico City.
For the high-energy performance, the “Hips Don’t Lie” hitmaker wore a yellow netted turtleneck bodysuit with matching detached sleeves. She paired the look with an asymmetrical purple-and-white wrap skirt that added a sporty edge, along with platform sneakers featuring bright yellow laces. Her signature curly hair was worn loose, and she completed the look with slim sunglasses while dancing alongside her crew.
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Shakira Sparks Body Double Rumors
The star-studded ceremony also featured performances from J Balvin, Maná, and Lila Downs ahead of the opening match.
After clips of the performance began circulating on social media, some viewers questioned whether the woman onstage was actually Shakira.
“Don't think that was Shakira...” one commenter wrote. Another joked, “Shakira from Temu.” Others fueled the speculation with remarks like, “That’s a clone of Shakira,” and “I know a stunt double when I see one—those hips are lying.” One viewer even asked, “Is Shakira in the room with us?”
Not everyone was buying into the conspiracy theory, however. Many fans were quick to defend the singer and point out that it was clearly her.
“Where did people come up with this conspiracy theory about her not being Shakira? People never stop amazing me,” one fan commented. Another admitted, “I also thought that wasn't Shakira, but then I saw her Instagram and it seems it's her. Maybe I just have an older version of her in my mind.” A third added, “That is her—look at the birthmark scar on her forehead.”
While the rumors continue to circulate online, most fans seem to agree that the performance featured the real Shakira, even if her appearance looked a little different from what some viewers remembered.
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Shakira Makes History At World Cup
The mom of two is no stranger to the World Cup stage. In fact, she made history as the first artist ever to perform at four separate FIFA World Cups.
Her World Cup journey began in 2006, when she performed her global hit “Hips Don't Lie” during the closing ceremony in Berlin, Germany. Four years later, she returned to the tournament in South Africa, where she delivered one of the most iconic World Cup performances of all time with “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)” at the opening ceremony. In 2014, she once again took the stage, performing “La La La (Brazil 2014)” at the closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.
Ahead of this year's tournament, the 49-year-old reflected on what makes the event so special. Speaking to People this month, she said, “Every World Cup is really magical, and I think this one is going to be all about bringing people together in this very sensitive moment in time, socially and politically.”
With her latest performance, the performer continues her long-standing connection to one of the world's biggest sporting events.
