Jennifer Lopez conquered the worlds of music, film, and dance to become one of the most powerful entertainers in history. While fans know her for her chart-topping hits and romantic comedies, her rise to fame was full of hard work and surprising detours. For instance, she started her career in the background for other pop stars before grabbing the microphone herself. Furthermore, she is a shrewd businesswoman who once refused a paycheck to bet on her own movie's success. Prepare to get loud with J.Lo.
Jennifer Lopez
Her green Versace dress literally invented Google Images. When she wore the jungle-print gown to the 2000 Grammys, so many people searched for pictures of it that Google realized they needed a dedicated image search function. Thus, her fashion choice changed the internet forever.
She was the first Latina actress to earn over one million dollars for a film. Her breakout role in the biopic Selena shattered pay records in Hollywood. Consequently, this milestone paved the way for higher salaries for Latinas in the entertainment industry.
Originally, she was a backup dancer for Janet Jackson. She appeared in the music video for “That’s the Way Love Goes” in 1993. Although Jackson asked her to go on tour, she declined to pursue her own acting career.
She also danced for New Kids on the Block. Before she was famous, she performed as a backup dancer during their performance at the 1991 American Music Awards. This gig was one of her very first taste of the national spotlight.
She completed a triathlon just six months after giving birth to twins. In 2008, she finished the Nautica Malibu Triathlon in two hours and twenty-three minutes. She trained for the grueling swim, bike, and run while caring for her newborns, Max and Emme.
Her mother won a massive jackpot at a casino. Guadalupe Rodríguez bet three dollars into a slot machine in Atlantic City and won 2.4 million dollars. Therefore, luck seems to run in the family.
Jennifer Lopez does not drink alcohol or caffeine. She attributes her famous “glow” and youthful appearance to avoiding these substances entirely. Instead, she drinks massive amounts of water to stay hydrated.
She starred as a “Fly Girl” on the sketch comedy show In Living Color. This job was her first big break in television, where she performed dance routines between comedy sketches. Interestingly, she beat out thousands of other applicants for the spot.
She refused an upfront salary for the movie Hustlers. Instead, she chose to bank on herself and take a percentage of the film’s profits. The gamble paid off hugely when the movie became a box office smash.
Her debut album On the 6 has its name after a subway line. She used to take the 6 train from her home in the Bronx to her dance classes in Manhattan. Thus, the title pays tribute to her long commute before she was famous.
She was arrested along with P. Diddy in 1999. Police detained the couple after a shooting occurred at a nightclub in New York City. However, the charges against her were quickly dropped when evidence proved she had nothing to do with the weapon.
Her nickname in the neighborhood was “The Guitar.” People in the Bronx called her “La Guitarra” because her curved body shape resembled the instrument. This was long before the media dubbed her J.Lo.
She holds the record for a number one movie and album in the same week. In 2001, her film The Wedding Planner hit number one at the box office while her album J.Lo topped the Billboard charts. She was the first woman in history to achieve this simultaneous feat.
Her stylist actually begged her not to wear the green Versace dress. The stylist argued that the dress had already been worn by three other people, including Geri Halliwell. Fortunately, Jennifer Lopez ignored the advice and created a fashion moment anyway.
Finally, she has been married four times. She tied the knot with Ojani Noa, Cris Judd, and Marc Anthony before marrying Ben Affleck decades after they first dated. Her journey to find lasting love has been just as famous as her career.
