Writer Kimberly Dole pens an op-ed on how Shakira’s latest single “Soltera” is the single girl anthem every Latina needs during “¿Y Tu Novio?” season.
Shakira’s latest single, “Soltera”, dropped on Sept. 25, and it’s more than just a catchy tune. It’s a powerful anthem for women, particularly Latinas, who are unapologetically embracing their single lives. As a Latina in her late 40s, Shakira challenges the societal expectations that often pressure women to prioritize relationships over personal fulfillment — even if those relationships aren’t healthy.
The lyrics read: “Se pasa rico soltera / Yo tengo derecho de portarme mal / Pa’ pasarla bien / Estoy suelta y ahora puedo hacer lo que quiera”, which translates to, “It’s great being single / I have the right to misbehave / To have a good time / I’m free and now I can do whatever I want.”
As a single Latina in my late 30s, I appreciate how the song celebrates life, emphasizing the joys of independence and self-love because this is something that Latinas are not typically taught when we’re growing up. Instead, we’re taught to prioritize the male gaze so that we increase our chances of marriage and motherhood. While I believe that some progress has been made, older generations often still perceive a single mother over 40 like Shakira to have somehow failed in life, despite all of her accomplishments. But she completely debunks that in “Soltera.”
She also emphasizes the importance of protecting your peace by having the right circle of people around you, a theme that we’ve noted in her recent social media posts promoting the track, where she’s seen singing and dancing along with other empowered women of color such as Anitta, Lele Pons, Natti Natasha, and Winnie Harlow.
The song’s lyrics are a celebration of single life, emphasizing the joys of independence and self-love. She also emphasizes the importance of protecting your peace by having the right circle of people around you.
