"I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I'm not capable, I'm too cowardly for that"
About this Quote
The line “for the love of art” is the key alibi. In pop culture, nudity is rarely just nudity; it’s a transaction dressed up as expression. By framing it as art-driven, Shakira grants legitimacy to performers and models who choose that lane, refusing to moralize them as either exploitative or exploited. That’s generous, and it’s strategic: she signals solidarity with women’s autonomy while sidestepping the expectation that a female star must continually escalate her visual reveal to prove relevance.
Then comes the disarming pivot: “I’m not capable, I’m too cowardly.” The word “cowardly” is intentionally over-harsh, a self-critique that functions like a shield. It preempts the usual accusations - prudish, calculating, hypocritical - by taking the hit first. In a media ecosystem trained to interpret a pop star’s body as public property, calling herself “cowardly” is less confession than boundary-setting. She’s acknowledging the pressure without feeding it.
Context matters: Shakira’s career has always traded on sensuality and movement, but on her terms - dance as craft, not surrender. This quote draws the line between performing sexuality and being consumed by it, and it does so with a surprisingly candid respect for the people on the other side of that line.
Quote Details
| Topic | Art |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Shakira. (2026, January 16). I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I'm not capable, I'm too cowardly for that. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-admire-a-person-who-for-the-love-of-art-is-able-120687/
Chicago Style
Shakira. "I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I'm not capable, I'm too cowardly for that." FixQuotes. January 16, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-admire-a-person-who-for-the-love-of-art-is-able-120687/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"I admire a person who, for the love of art, is able to take off their clothes in front of a camera. But I'm not capable, I'm too cowardly for that." FixQuotes, 16 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/i-admire-a-person-who-for-the-love-of-art-is-able-120687/. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

