When Shakira became the first Colombian this week to get her name on a world-renowned monument to the entertainment industry -- the Hollywood Walk of Fame -- the 34-year-old recording artist recalled what her mother told her at age 7 . `` One day , Shaki , your name will be here , '' her mother said when the two and a family friend visited Hollywood for the first time 27 years ago . For Shakira , the star marked a personal triumph -- as an artist and a Latina . `` If by coincidence you happen to look down to the ground and you see this star , remember that it belongs to each one of you , because it carries the name of a Hispanic woman that , like you , dreams and works and works and dreams every day , '' Shakira said during a public ceremony on Hollywood Boulevard , with her mom and the same friend present . As the latest celebrity to get a terrazzo star , trimmed with bronze , on the sidewalks of Hollywood , Shakira joins a small but growing rank of minority performers making a dent in an overall industry that some criticize as not inviting enough to African-Americans , Latinos and Asians . In fact , of the 2,354 stars on Hollywood sidewalks , only 3.4 % of them belong to Hispanics such as Shakira , a CNN analysis shows . The figure is 5.1 % for African-Americans and a mere 0.4 % for Asians , according to an analysis of the stars on the Walk of Fame . Those figures fall short when compared with those minorities ' representation in the nation 's overall population : 16 % for Hispanics , 13 % for African-Americans and about 5 % for Asians . List : Minority celebs on Walk of Fame . To be sure , the Walk of Fame functions as a commercial attraction and publicity device , but given the international attention it receives whenever a prominent artist such as Shakira receives a star , the Walk is also a major indicator of industry trends and success . Hollywood analysts say they are n't surprised at how the Walk lacks minorities , though its sponsor and operator , the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce , says it has been working hard to improve diversity in an attraction that stretches for blocks throughout Hollywood . `` The numbers are low , '' said Andrew Weaver , an Indiana University assistant professor in the department of telecommunications and an expert in race and media . `` The Walk of Fame reflects what we 're seeing in Hollywood in general . '' Hollywood 's overall shortcomings in including more minorities -- and representing them as more than stereotypes -- are a longstanding problem that has been roundly decried by minority advocacy groups and many performers . Still , the chamber says its committee that selects star honorees balances numerous factors in its annual process , including race , gender , nationality , genre of performance and industry type . The 2,354 stars on the Walk line both sides of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street -- the heart of Hollywood -- and the chamber 's annual 24 or so induction ceremonies are broadcast around the world . `` We are equal opportunity star givers ! '' Leron Gubler , president and CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce , said in a written response to questions from CNN . The stars honor celebrities in five categories : motion pictures , television , radio , recording and live theater/performance . `` The committee tries to select candidates from each of the five categories , so with all of the different factors as well as the makeup of who has been nominated , it is a challenge to balance all factors , '' Gubler said . `` Since day one , we have encouraged minorities to apply , '' Gubler said about the Walk , which opened in 1961 . `` When the Walk of Fame was created , some of the first stars included Anna May Wong , Dolores Del Rio , Cantinflas , Hattie McDaniel and many others . The committee does try to ensure that minorities are represented in the selections , but there is no set mandatory ratio . '' A CNN analysis bears out Gubler 's assertions and shows an upward trend of minority representation on the Walk over recent decades . Latinos grew from 1.9 % in 1980 , 2.2 % in 1990 , 2.8 % in 2000 , to 3.2 % in 2010 . African-Americans showed similar growth : 1.6 % in 1980 , 2.3 % in 1990 , 4.7 % in 2000 and 5.1 % in 2010 . Asians posted marginal increases : 0.20 % in 1980 , 0.22 % in 1990 , 0.41 % in 2000 , and 0.43 % in 2010 . On one level , the Walk is a marketing tool . `` The Hollywood Walk of Fame is undoubtedly one of the most successful marketing ideas ever produced , '' the chamber touts on its website . The marketing aspect -- in which a celebrity sometimes gets a star timed with the release of a new project -- is partly reflected in how the chamber requires a $ 30,000 `` sponsorship fee , '' often paid by a studio , recording label or even a group of fans , chamber officials said . The fee is for the lifetime maintenance of the star , its production , a replica plaque and ceremony costs , officials said . `` Of course , it 's a promotional tool . That 's why studios and networks look for it , '' Hollywood publicist Michael Levine said . Still , the selection process is a serious-minded affair , according to the Walk 's gatekeepers . A star is awarded after a lengthy process in which hundreds of nomination applications are sent to the Hollywood chamber , and then its Walk of Fame committee selects the winners , with the approval of the chamber 's board of directors . The names also are submitted to the city of Los Angeles ' Board of Public Works Department . Sometimes , several annual nominations must be made before a nominee finally receives a star , chamber officials said . The chamber has other criteria for who gets a star : professional achievement , longevity of five years or more , contributions to the community and the guarantee that the celebrity will attend the dedication ceremony . An honoree also has to agree to be nominated , which may be a factor in why not all major celebrities have a star . Sometimes , a performer does n't want one , such as Julia Roberts . Other notable A-listers without one include George Lucas , Robert Redford , Angelina Jolie , Woody Allen and Leonardo DiCaprio . By the end of 2011 -- with a few more minority celebrities scheduled to be honored this year -- the Walk of Fame will have 77 stars overall given to Latinos , 119 stars to African-Americans or African-American ensembles ( three of those performers -- Nat `` King '' Cole , Lena Horne and Sarah Vaughn -- have a second star , but they are counted only once ) , and only 10 stars to Asians , according to the chamber . When asked about the dearth of Asian artists on the Walk of Fame , Gubler stated : `` There have been relatively few nominations for Asian entertainers . Someone has to be nominated by a sponsor in order to be considered with a star . The issue must be pursued by a nominator . The committee can only consider from the pool of candidates that have been nominated . '' A recent decade-by-decade analysis of the stars on the Walk of Fame shows that the 1990s were a boom decade for African-Americans , when 49 stars were awarded to them . During the 1980s , they secured 24 stars . From 2000 to the end of 2011 , the number will be 22 . Latinos , however , have prospered from 2000 to the end of 2011 : Nineteen stars were awarded , including four this year alone , according to a CNN analysis . That compares with 18 during the 1990s and 11 during the 1980s . Only one Asian -- actor Philip Ahn , who played wise Master Kan in the TV series `` Kung Fu '' -- received a star in the 1980s . Five Asians received stars in the 1990s , but only one ( Jackie Chan ) has been placed on the Walk since 2000 , a CNN analysis shows . It was the recent success of Latinos that caught the attention of several Hollywood analysts . That trend comes as the 2010 U.S. Census put the burgeoning Latino population at the nation 's No . 2 racial group for the first time ever , displacing African-Americans . On Tuesday , two-time Grammy and seven-time Latin Grammy winner Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll -- known professionally as Shakira -- received a star for her accomplishments as a singer , songwriter , musician , record producer , dancer and philanthropist , the chamber said . It 's no secret that studios and record labels alike are hoping to find additional revenues in the rapidly growing Latino market . `` One of the ways to get Latinos into the movie theaters is getting Latino stars , '' said Steven Ross , a University of Southern California history professor and author of `` Hollywood Left and Right : How Movie Stars Shaped American Politics . '' `` Hollywood is also thinking about global markets : Central American and Latin markets . A majority of Hollywood revenue is coming from international revenue . It 's a much more significant part , more important to the studios ' bottom line now that it ever has been before , '' Ross said . Still , Ross was n't surprised by the low minority representation on the Walk of Fame , he said . `` It 's probably appropriate to the history of Hollywood , which has mainly been playing to ( a ) mainstream audience , which is a white audience , '' Ross said . `` Just remember , this is not the consciousness-raising industry . This is the money-making industry . They will always follow the money trail . If they see more Latinos going to movies , they 'll feature more Latino stars . '' In the end , that reality may put more minorities in Hollywood -- and on its Walk of Fame . `` Very simple , '' Ross said . `` More minority audiences , more minority stars . ''
CNN analysis : Minorities are underrepresented on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . `` The numbers are low , '' 2,354 university expert says . Of the 2,354 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , 3.4 % go to blacks and 0.4 % to Hispanics . Asians have only 10 stars , or only 5.1 % .