What should be a tribute ended up becoming a reason for mockery. The Veracruz Wax Museum, in Mexico, recently presented a statue of Shakira, but far from being received with enthusiasm, the figure generated controversy among the fans of the Colombian artist. Many social media users say that sculpture looks more like Shakibeccaa well -known imitator of the singer, who to the “Loba” Barranquillera.
The expectation was high. The museum, which houses more than 150 celebrities such as Elton John, Lady Gaga, Celia Cruz, Marc Anthony and Bad Bunny, opted to incorporate Shakira to strengthen her tourist attraction. However, the execution of the project was hard criticized. Comments such as “It looks like their cheap copies”, “they passed, they should melt and remake it” and “congratulations to Shakibecca for their statue” dominated viral publications on Instagram and Tiktok.
The outrage not only focused on the resemblance to the imitator, but also on the lack of fidelity to the characteristic features of the singer. “They do not have professional artists who project the true features of the celebrities,” said some users. There were even those who suggested that the sculptor could have been based on double images to perform the work.
This is not the first time that a wax figure of the Veracruz Museum generates controversy. The statue of the Colombian singer Carlos Vives also received criticism after his recent unveiling, especially because he was presented as “The King of Vallenato”, a title that is not traditionally attributed to him, which lit a debate among fans of the genre.
The contrast to the work done by the prestigious Madame Tussauds Museum has also become evident. In 2023, Shakira was included in this recognized wax museum chain, after a thorough process that included photographic studies, take exact measures and the reproduction of iconic outfits used by the singer in events such as the Latin Grammy. The result was a realistic figure that managed to faithfully capture its image and essence, something that, according to critics, is far from achieving the new figure exhibited in Veracruz.
Currently, other Colombian stars such as Sofia Vergara, Maluma, J Balvin and Karol G also have their replicas in International Headquarters of Madame Tussauds, consolidating the worldwide recognition of Colombian talent. However, the unfortunate representation of Shakira in Mexico has evidenced the risks of making hurried tributes and without the artistic level necessary to pay tribute to the most beloved figures of the music scene.
