✦Named as one of the most influential Hispanic entertainers in America in People en Espanol's list of "100 Most Influential Hispanics" in January 2007.
✦Teamed up with fellow Colombian author Gabriel Garcia Marquez to launch a child poverty foundation, "America Latina en Accion Solidaria" or Latin America in Solidarity Action, aimed at fighting poverty in Latin America (December 2006).
✦Made Yahoo's annual list of Popular Search Terms in 2006 at the 3rd spot.
✦Was granted Humanitarian award on April 3, 2006 for starting a charitable foundation, Barefoot, to help children in her native Colombia escape violence.
✦Is immortalized with a 5-meter (16-foot) iron statue in her home city on Colombia's Caribbean coast.