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The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off in Mexico City with a spectacular celebration and performance by Shakira. But was it actually Shakira?

The internet is divided over whether that really was the Colombian superstar performing her song “Dai Dai” with Burna Boy. Shakira was one of the stars at the Estadio Azteca stadium for the opening ceremony. However, during her performance, the internet lit up with theories that it wasn’t actually her singing and dancing, but a body double.

Now, a body language expert has analyzed that footage and investigated the claims. Here’s their verdict.

Inbaal Honigman is a body language expert. She has appeared in the media for more than 20 years, offering her expertise and perspectives on current events and pop culture figures for several outlets, including Big Brother’s Little Brother, Elle Magazine, and talkSPORT radio, to name a few.

Speaking on behalf of Casino.org, Honigman told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “Right at the start of the performance, it is evident that Shakira is twirling her hands to the music, not with the gentle, elegant, soft fingers typical of belly dance hands, but with a pointed index finger.”

Honigman continued, “Belly dancing mainly involves the undulation of the hips and torso, but strong, stabilising footwork and rolling, flowing hand gestures are also typical. Shakira’s signature pointed forefinger is therefore unique to her, and highly unusual within the belly dancing space. 

“This pointed index finger has accompanied Shakira throughout her entire career, as she has always danced with this steepled forefinger. The gesture therefore suggests that this is either Shakira herself, or someone who has spent a very long time unlearning standard belly dance movements and adopting one of Shakira’s most specific quirks.”

So was it the real Shakira or a body double performing?

According to the expert, it was indeed Shakira behind the glasses based off the “Whenever, Wherever” songstress’s facial structure and the way she walks.

“When Shakira turns and smiles at Burna Boy during the performance, her slightly forward-placed chin is seen in profile, and it is as Shakira as it gets,” Honigman insisted.

“The singer has always been the proud owner of a strong jawline, with a chin that has long been one of her most distinctive features. Irrespective of surgery rumours, it gives her a slight, cheeky underbite when she smiles and is representative of her natural face shape. This chin-heavy profile suggests that this is indeed Shakira, as it is an unusual facial feature, and certainly not one that would typically be requested from a surgeon.”

Honigman added, “In fan clips of Shakira walking onto and off the pitch, her gait appears to favour her right side. Her right leg and hip seem stronger than the left, causing her right hip to rise slightly higher, her right leg to step out more powerfully, and her right stride to be marginally longer. 

“This is consistent with older footage of Shakira simply walking around New York with her children. Her hips truly don’t lie. The Colombian star’s gait and pace during the World Cup opening match appeared much the same as they always have. It’s a subtle quirk, but it’s there.”

Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges that conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.

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