The Colombian singer started her hugely successful music career at the age of 13.

And Shakira is speaking out about the obstacles she had to overcome in the cover story of Billboard magazine for their 2018 Latin Issue.

The 41-year-old artist revealed that ‘the path to success has been longer, steeper, with more obstacles than if I had been born in Florida or New York City.’

Scroll down for picture:

Shakira explained: ‘To be born in Barranquilla and start a career at a time when the pop music scene was almost nonexistent in Colombia.’

The worldwide singer said it ‘was a very hostile environment’ when she began with her ballads and rock songs.