After months of speculation, Shakira has confirmed her relationship with Spanish footballer Gerard Pique in a thoroughly modern method.
The Colombian pop star, 34, has bypassed confirmations by her publicist and magazine deals and instead posted a romantic picture of the couple on Twitter.
The romantic snap shows the smiling pair in front of a beach setting with the sun beaming down on them and their arms wrapped around each other, with the simple message: 'I present to you my sunshine.'
Sweet tweet: Shakira has confirmed her romance with footballer Gerard Pique by tweeting a picture of the couple where she calls him her 'sunshine'
Shakira and the 24-year-old centre-back became the focus of intense media attention earlier this month when gossip magazines published photographs of the couple holding hands and kissing in Barcelona.
Shakira announced at the start of the year that her 11-year relationship with lawyer Antonio de la Rua, 37, the eldest son of the former Argentinian premier, amid rumours that he had been cheating on her.
And last month, Pique , who plays for FC Barcelona, uploaded a photograph from his birthday on February 2 of himself and the Colombian singer celebrating with friends.
Caught: The couple were spotted holding hands after dining together in Barcelona last month
Romance: Shakira first met the Barcelona FC star while filming the video for Waka Waka (This Time for Africa), but denied they were an item for months
The singer first met Pique last spring while shooting the video to her song Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) - the official track of the 2010 World Cup.
Barcelona-based newspaper El Periodico de Catalunya claimed they had a string of secret encounters following their initial meeting.
It said they both spent a night in the seven-room Hotel Atzaro in Ibiza last July. The footballer is said to have arrived and left wearing the same clothes.
However, Shakira has previously dismissed reports of a romance.
At a press conference in Barcelona she described the claims as a 'waka-rumour' and added: 'You shouldn't take any notice of waka-rumours.'
On tour: The Colombian singer is currently on her The Sun Comes Out world tour
Pique was also quick to deny that they were lovers, telling reporters last month: 'We're just friends. There's nothing more to it.'
But in February, the pair were spotted holding hands as they left a restaurant in Barcelona.
Shakira announced her split from De La Rua, son of former Argentine president Fernando de la Rua, on her official website in January.
The couple said: 'During our almost 11 years together we have loved each other deeply, taken care of each other and stood by one another.
Split: Shakira announced the end of her 11-year relationship with Antonio de la Rua in January, amid rumours that he had been cheating on her
'They have been the most wonderful years of our lives, and thanks to that love and the respect we have shared for one another, we have been an exceptional couple and partners.
'Our friendship and understanding of one another is unwavering and indestructible.'
The couple added that they viewed their separation as temporary, and that de la Rua - who is also Shakira's agent - would continue to oversee the singer's business and career interests.
'We move forward together as partners, developing projects together, working hand in hand and in close communication,' the pair said.
