Shakira Opens Up About Her "Beautiful Relationship" With Gerard Piqué

"Relationships have to have a give and take if they're going to work in the long term," the "Hips Don't Lie" singer says

By Alyssa Toomey Apr 25, 2014 3:47 PMTags
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Despite her past eyebrow-raising comments (which in all fairness she did indeed clarify) Shakira says the "balance of power is fairly equal" in her relationship with boyfriend Gerard Piqué.

"Relationships have to have a give and take if they're going to work in the long term," the Colombian beauty, who stuns on the cover of Ocean Drive magazine's "Women of Influence" issue explains.

The "Hips Don't Lie" singer made headlines back in March after she revealed the reason behind her collaboration with Rihanna, admitting her boyfriend is to blame.

"He's very territorial, and since he no longer lets me do videos with men, well, I have to do them with women," Shakira told Billboard.

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She later clarified that she was being "humorous" and reiterated the point with Ocean Drive mag. "It's funny, when I made those comments, it was really in a lighthearted, humorous way. I was surprised to see that it was taken so seriously in the press."

"Gerard doesn't tell me what to do," she continued. "We discuss everything as a couple, as I imagine most partners do. We have a beautiful relationship and one of mutual trust."

The couple has one child together, a son named Milan Piqué Mebarak, whom they welcomed in January 2013 and the hitmaker reveals how motherhood has changed her.

"Everything is different. Maybe the biggest change is that I think about the future more, what the world will be like for him when he grows up," she says. "But when it comes to living, it's all about the present."

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As for her experience working with Rihanna for their super sexy "Can't Remember to Forget You" music video?

"It was a blast, honestly," she reveals. "I'm sure on the outside it looks like two divas, but when we got together, we realized we had a lot in common—both Caribbean girls from small towns who are very down to earth when it comes down to it, and just enjoy having a good time."

So does the down-to-Earth beauty still remain in touch with her Colombian roots?

"I go back a couple of times a year—not as often as I'd like with my schedule, but I still remain very identified with the culture," she says. "This year, when I inaugurated my school, we also got Milan his Colombian passport. I want him to identify with and know that part of his background and culture because it's a beautifully rich and colorful one."