Marquez, with a career spanning from the age of 16, has crafted large statues for Colombian cities and serves as an academic coordinator in Barranquilla’s public art academy.

Mayor Jaime Pumarejo proposed the idea of a Shakira statue for the waterfront, and a month later, Marquez was chosen.

[4][5] A plaque beneath the statue reads: "A heart that composes, hips that don't lie, unmatched talent, a voice that moves the masses, and bare feet that march for the good of children and humanity.

She shared her happiness at having her parents present on her mother's birthday during the ceremony and extended gratitude to the statue's sculptor and the students from a local arts school.

Since 2006, a no less representative one has been displayed in the park of the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, the largest stadium in Colombia.