Shakira has opened up about the "prejudice" she's faced in the music industry during the early years of her career.
The 44-year-old pop star told Glamour that she faced "double entendre comments" about her Columbian heritage, including hurtful comments about "drug trafficking".
Shakira was already a sensation in Latin America when she broke into the United States in 2001 with her album, Laundry Service — which featured the hit single, Whenever Wherever.
Speaking to the publication, she candidly explained: "I think I suffered more from other kinds of prejudice, like being Colombian.
"I remember when I had my first big break in music outside Colombia, there were many double entendre comments about what it meant to be Colombian, and usually associated with drug trafficking, all of that. It's like, we're always the joke, it was uncomfortable."
Shakira, who is married to Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué, also opened up about how she has struggled with her insecurities over the years.
"Sometimes I project this image of confidence, but in reality, I'm very, very insecure," she said. "I feel like I have this duality. It's weird, because sometimes I feel really empowered that I can do it all, but it never happens without me going through a process of self-doubt."
The singer also opened up about her work with Prince William on the Earthshot Prize eco-awards.
"Seeing Prince William's passion and how genuinely determined he is to provoke change is very, very inspiring," she stated. "It's just incredible to see how committed he is, and all the people at Earthshot are, to make change happen in the world in such a short amount of time. And it's not impossible.
"It requires many of us, plenty of commitment and determination, and we need to raise awareness towards that," she added, detailing that she decided to work on the prize because of her two children that she shares with Piqué.
"Seeing them so worried, so concerned about the planet and how they can make this a better place has been so inspiring to me as a mother. As a parent, I want to make sure that they will live in a world that will be better than the one I grew up in," she added.