New York:

Shakira dominated the Latin Grammy awards as she won a leading four trophies, including album of the year for Fijacion Oral Vol 1 and song and record of the year honours for La Tortura, her smoldering duet with Alejandro Sanz, on November 2.

Though Shakira, who also won best female pop vocal album, stole the spotlight at the event — gyrating her way through a rendition of La Tortura with her chest heaving and hips swaying — she also took the time to shine a light on one of the most heated issues in the US, that of immigrants working in this country illegally. She threw her support to those trying to become citizens as they work without documentation.

“I hope soon they will receive they recognition they deserve from the government,” said the Colombian superstar said.

Her album also picked up another award for its engineers.

Other multiple winners included the reggaeton group Calle 13 and Argentine rocker Gustavo Cerati. Cerati won best rock song for Crimen and best rock vocal album for Ahi vamos. Calle 13 picked up awards for best new artist, best music album, and also won best short music video Grammy for its reggaeton song Atrevete te, te!

This year, New York’s Madison Square Garden played host to the Latin Grammys, now in its

seventh year. The evening included performances from Ricky Martin, Andrea Bocelli, and a tribute to reggaeton and salsa.