Shakira, 49, says career and kids leave no room for romance
Synopsis
Three years after her high-profile split from Gerard Piqué, Shakira says she is more in love with her career than ever — and has zero interest in a new relationship. It is a rare, candid admission from one of pop's biggest names about choosing herself over romance.
Key Takeaways
Shakira told The Times she has 'no space or time' for romance right now.
She has been single since her split from Gerard Piqué in 2022 .
Her sons Milan, 13 , and Sasha, 11 , are her stated priority.
She described the period around the breakup — when her father William was also hospitalised — as 'the darkest moment' of her life.
Shakira says the pain ultimately made her 'wiser' and 'stronger', and she remains grateful for the lessons it taught her.
Singer-songwriter Shakira says romance is not on her agenda right now, telling The Times that her children and a reinvigorated career leave her no room for a new relationship. The Colombian pop star, 49, has been single since her long-term relationship with former footballer Gerard Piqué ended in 2022.
Her own words on love and priorities
'No romance for me for now. There's no space or time in my life for that. My plate is quite full. My kids are my priority,' Shakira told The Times. She also spoke of a newfound passion for her work: 'Strangely enough, I'm in love with my career like I've never been in my life. I'm enjoying my time alone as well.'
Co-parenting after the split
Shakira and Piqué are parents to Milan, 13, and Sasha, 11. The separation in 2022 was, by her own account, among the most painful periods of her life — compounded by the hospitalisation of her father William following a severe fall at around the same time. She described that period as 'the darkest moment, when I saw the dissolution of my family. The family that I had dreamt to keep forever.'
Resilience and lessons from pain
Despite the hardship, Shakira says the experience ultimately made her stronger. 'I've been through so much pain, but it has made me perhaps in an unforeseen way a wiser person, or stronger, at least,' she said, adding that she remains grateful even to those who caused her suffering. 'The people who have made me suffer because they have become my masters who have taught me lessons, very valuable lessons,' she said.
She also reflected on human resilience more broadly: 'Sometimes through hardships and through pain is how we discover how strong we can be. Suffering sometimes makes you a better person, makes you value friends and support.'
Career at the centre
Shakira's post-split years have been professionally prolific — her 2023 diss track aimed at Piqué became a global streaming phenomenon, and her subsequent tour cemented her commercial resurgence. The singer says she remains grateful to Piqué for the role he played in her life, even as that chapter has closed. For now, her focus stays firmly on her sons and her music.
Point of View
She is reframing the story entirely — not as a woman moving on to someone new, but as one who found sufficiency in herself. The commercial data backs her up: her post-split output has outperformed almost anything from her Piqué years. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is that this is also a pointed statement about what women in their late forties are expected to want — and Shakira is quietly refusing the script.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Shakira not looking for a new relationship?
Shakira says her two sons and a career she describes as the most fulfilling of her life leave her no time or space for romance. She told The Times, 'My plate is quite full. My kids are my priority.'
When did Shakira and Gerard Piqué break up?
Shakira and former footballer Gerard Piqué ended their long-term relationship in 2022. The couple share two sons, Milan, 13, and Sasha, 11.
What did Shakira say about the hardest period of her life?
Shakira described the time around her split from Piqué — during which her father William was also hospitalised after a severe fall — as 'the darkest moment' of her life. She said the experience ultimately made her a wiser and stronger person.
How has Shakira's career fared since the breakup?
Shakira has had a notable professional resurgence since 2022, including a globally streamed diss track in 2023 and a successful concert tour. She told The Times she is 'in love with my career like I've never been in my life.'
What lessons does Shakira say she took from her pain?
Shakira said suffering taught her resilience and helped her value friendships and support more deeply. She described people who caused her pain as 'masters who have taught me lessons, very valuable lessons.'
