Latin pop star Shakira opened her worldwide stadium tour Tuesday evening at Bank of America Stadium, with more than 50,000 people in attendance.
To kick off the tour, 50 accomplished Latina women living across North Carolina escorted Shakira onto the stage.
Those women included Marcela Torres of the Carolina Latinx Center at UNC-Chapel Hill; Elaine Townsend-Utin of LatinxEd; Irene Godinez of Poder NC Action; Stefania Arteaga of Carolina Migrant Network; Andrea Duhon of Davidson College; Saira Estrada of the city of Charlotte; and Cristina España of Gov. Josh Stein’s office.
“I never saw myself as a mathematician because there was no mathematician that looked like me," Duhon said. "But being able to see myself in the picture, someone else who’s coming up and able to give that possibility.”
Most of the women are immigrants or daughters of immigrants, and were chosen based on their identities and experiences in the state.
"Sometimes you just go through life and you don't see what you're doing, and the other women are amazing," España said. "So it's just an honor to be part of the 50."
The 50 women chosen were provided backstage access and received concert tickets for themselves and a guest.
