10 Colombian Celebrities to Know in Honor of Colombian Independence day
In honor of Colombian Independence day, July 20, get to know some of pop culture's reigning Colombian actors, musicians and personalities.
1. Shakira: One of the most successful Latino stars to cross over to mainstream American music, Shakira is known for her deep voice and belly-dance-inspired routines. The singer recently opened a school in her native Colombia, according to Billboard, and is always vocal about her heritage either through world causes or in her music. Most notably, the singer gave the country a shout out in her hit "Hips Don't Lie."
2. Sofia Vergara: American Television's most popular Latina just might be Colombiana Sofia Vergara. Like Shakira, the actress has made a successful crossover into mainstream American pop culture. Vergara, who stars in "Modern Family," is known for her heavy accent and promoting the image of the sexy Latina.
3. Juanes: Singer and musician, Juanes came into the music scene with his hit "La Camisa Negra." The star has won several Grammy's for his work and is soon to perform for the Pope when he comes to the United States later this year.
4. Carlos Vives: The singer began his career in television dramas but eventually released his first album in 1986 and has since then been known for his "Vallenato-pop" inspired songs such as "Ella Es Mi Fiesta" and "La Gota Fría." In 2014, the 53-year-old received a Hispanic Heritage Award by the Hispanic Heritage foundation in Washington, D.C.
5. Fanny Lu: The 42-year-old actress and singer was born in Santiago de Cali, Colombia. She got her start as a presenter in popular Spanish show "Locomotora." The star released her debut album in 2006 "Lágrimas Cálidas." Most recently she released her single "Mujeres," which features Panamanian singer Joey Montana.
6. Fonseca: The singer, whose full name is Juan Fernando Fonseca, is a Bogotá-born artist whose career has been influenced by Carlos Vives and blends Vellenato and Cumbia in his musical stylings.
7. J Balvin: The urban music artist, whose real name is José Álvaro Osorío Balvin, is currently enjoying musical success with his single "Ay Vamos." The 30-year-old star, who was born in Medellín, recently made headlines for dropping out of his scheduled performance at the 2015 Miss USA pageant after Donald Trump's comments about Mexican immigrants.
8. Nina Garcia: A strong presence in the fashion world, the Barranquilla-born fashion journalist has served as Fashion Director for Marie Claire and Elle Magazine. She has appeared as a judge on American television reality show "Project Runway" since its first season. The show is now in Season 14.
9. Fabian Rios: The telenovela actor has appeared in "Dama y Obrero" and "Tierra de Reyes." Born in Curití, Santander, Colombia, the 35-year-old is set to to appear in the second season of the television show "Top Chef Estrellas."
10. Maluma: New reggaeton artist Maluma, who was born in Medellín and whose real name is Juan Luis Londoño Arias, came on the music scene in 2011 with his single "Farandurlera" and gained popularity while appearing in "La Voz Kids Colombia." He most recently performed at the 2015 Premios Juventud.
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