Shakira is still busily promoting her upcoming Shakira album. We’ve discussed her Billboard interview where Shakira admitted that Gerard Pique is “very territorial” and won’t let her do videos with men. He didn’t mind Shakira and Rihanna groping each other and having a booty contest in the video to “Can’t Remember to Forget You.” Many of you rightfully commented that most of Shakira’s videos usually feature her dancing with a crowd (or alone). It’s odd that Gerard would care about random male dancers. Oh well. Shakira also keeps her weight where Gerard likes it. She talks more about Gerard’s territorial nature in this interview. He didn’t have the greatest reaction to her talking about him in Billboard. Fortunately, there’s plenty of talk of Shakira’s philanthropy to balance things out. Here are some excerpts:

She feels responsibility to speak for her culture: “I do. I do feel that I have to use my voice for those that don’t have one. I have to do the best I can in my own work to represent my culture, represent the women of my country, of Latin America. What we stand for. What we’re made of. I feel like there is a part of me that represents a minority in the US, a minority around the world. People who struggle, people who want to succeed with drive and ambition. People who want to try – yeah, I do feel in a way like an ambassador, for all of those.”

She insists her corporate sponsors commit themselves ethically: “It’s what is called philanthro-capitalism. It’s the private sector caring enough to help find solutions to our common problems. It’s the private sector getting involved the way they should in today’s world. So that’s the kind of commitment I need from commercial brands like Oral-B and Crest. And that’s one of the biggest incentives I can have for me to sign a contract with one of these multi-nationals — to see this kind of commitment.”

She uses her celebrity for good: “That’s what it is. I always felt that there had to be much more [than] just… shaking it, you know, eternally. Or just making music. Or more even than the pure enjoyment of entertaining someone — being on stage, which is a tremendous rush of adrenaline. But there had to be something else to my life. And I feel that with this work that I do, that’s how my life gets fulfilled. And how I find a purpose to my own existence. And I do feel that music is the platform. It’s become the vehicle that allows me to use my voice to speak about those issues that need urgent attention. I can take the spotlight that shines on me and shift it towards those issues that are infinitely more important than my own issues.”

Squaring her sexy videos with feminism: “Ah-ha ha! Em… I don’t… I… I feel like I don’t have to choose, really. I don’t have to be one thing or the other. I’m a multi-faceted woman, and person, like all women are — there’s no black and white. We have shades of grey in the middle. And even many more colours that other people don’t see! I don’t think that… that I put myself in any situation in which I am objectified. But I do take advantage of, you know, feeling sensual and feeling sexy. And I think that is tremendously empowering and is not diminishing in any way. I fell that any woman who is in control, who is in touch with her femininity and sensuality, is a woman that is empowered. Is a woman who is comfortable in her own skin. Which is so important as well.”

More on Gerard Pique not letting her do videos with men: “I’ll tell you something: he said, ‘can you please shut your little mouth next time you’re doing interviews — because you’re making me sound terrible!’ And I said: ‘Isn’t it true? Can I go and do video with men?’ And he’s like, ‘no!’ He is definitely territorial. He’s a Spanish man. But I like that. He’s protecting his turf. He is a defender — the last person before the goalie.”

[From Independent]

I’m sort of laughing at Shakira’s notion that she doesn’t allow herself to ever be objectified. Her stage act and videos are all pretty sexy. In her “She Wolf” video, she gropes herself, rolls around in a cage, and makes humping gestures. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, and she doesn’t have to choose between feminism and being sexy. But to claim that she doesn’t allow herself to be objectified? Ha.

As far as Gerard telling Shakira to “shut your little mouth” … that seems disrespectful at best. I guess she must enjoy that kind of relationship dynamic, or she wouldn’t be with him.

Here’s a photo of Shakira attending a school inauguration for her foundation. When she commits herself to opening a school, it happens — unlike with Madonna.

Photos courtesy of WENN