Monica’s Parasocial Relationship

My childhood idol and role model was (and still is) Shakira. Watching her dance in music videos and performances on TV in elementary school got me interested in Latin dancing, and my personal dance style today has a lot of elements prevalent in her dancing. I also admired her for being a philanthropist and a well-spoken, intelligent female role model on top of being a celebrity. Today, I identify as both a nerd and salsa dancer, and my admiration for Shakira has helped me embrace this dichotomy.