Before she became one of Hollywood’s highest paid actors…
Before she recorded her first platinum-selling album…
Before she was “J.Lo” to millions of fans…
She was just Jennifer, a
Puerto Rican girl from the mean streets of the Bronx, New York, who dreamed big. This well-documented biography tells how Jennifer Lopez started out as a dancer, then an actor, then a pop star through her ambition and hard work.
“If I could describe myself in a few words,” Jennifer told
Newsweek magazine,
“STRONG would be one of them. I know what I want, and I’m willing to go after it.”
Jennifer went after her dream, dropping out of Baruch College in New York City to devote her time to becoming a dance floor diva. Jennifer’s talent and work ethic earned her spots in music videos, such as
Janet Jackson’s “That’s the Way Love Goes.” Later she danced as one of the “Fly Girls” on the hit television comedy show
In Living Color.
The book drags a bit in the earlier chapters, devoting less time to J.Lo to discuss the industry politics of the TV and films in which she appeared. But the pace picks up again in Chapter 6 when Jennifer Lopez lands the starring role in the movie
Selena about a popular Tejano recording artist who was tragically shot by her former fan club president (read more about Selena in my Shvoong review – link below). This ground-breaking film was made with a Latin writer-director, a Latin actress, and an all-Latin cast and crew. When Jennifer recreated Selena’s live performance from the Houston Livestock and Rodeo show, she got such a rush from the enthusiastic fans that Jennifer decided to start her own music career.
“I felt a lot of love from that crowd…I was a little overwhelmed.” – Jennifer Lopez, about Selena movie
Jennifer was already acting in back-to-back-to-back films. Now she launched her recording career. Her debut album
On the 6 flew off the record shelves, but it was panned by the critics. Unfortunately Jennifer was also developing a reputation for being a diva Latina who was difficult to work with and unpredictable at interviews. Jennifer’s romantic life has also been the subject of much controversy, from her marriage to childhood sweetheart Ojani Noa to her affair with Sean “Puffy” Combs to her brief marriage to Cris Judd to her engagement to actor Ben Affleck to her current marriage to Marc Anthony. Jennifer’s fashion choices have added fuel to the fire, like the barely-there Versace dress that she wore at the 2000 Grammy awards.
All drama aside, one thing is clear: Jennifer knows what she wants and is willing to work hard to reach her dream. Now in her role as wife and mother, it looks like she has done just that.
“If my heart tells me it’s true and right, then that’s good enough for me.” – Jennifer Lopez, on
MTV Diary (March 29, 2000)
About the Author
Kathleen Tracy is a journalist based out of Southern California. She has written more than 20 books, including biographies of Elvis Presley and Judy Blume.