Music and dance diva Jennifer Lopez turned 49 yesterday, July 24—a year shy of 50 yet she still looks like the same Jenny from the block from the early ’00s. Or even Selena from her ’90s film. But she’s far from done when it comes to her many accomplishments. Aside from the awards and nominations she received in music and film, JLo has been making a mark in other fields like beauty, fashion, and humanitarian work.
So, in honor of JLo’s birthday (it’s still the 24th on the other side of the globe), let’s list down all the ways she’s winning at life. Because living life to the fullest at that age is what we aspire.
Years worth of dance music
From the 1999 hit “Let’s Get Loud” to her latest hit “Dinero” featuring DJ Khaled and Cardi B, Jennifer has given us enough dance songs to last us for years. Not to mention that she can bust a move every time she performs any of them.
Doesn’t scrimp on fashion
JLo has worn everything from glitter, sequins, bold prints, and vibrant hues on the red carpet and onstage. Billboard rounded up her style evolution which includes her memorable tropical-print dress during the 2000 Grammys, her baby pink gown at the 2002 Oscars, and so much more.
She also once wore a Michael Cinco creation that looked like a stained glass window complete with 10,000 Swarovski crystals and a 20-foot train. It also took 100 people to complete. We don’t even know how she’ll top this dress in the future.
She has her own fashion collections
JLo’s love for fashion expanded to having her own collections. She currently has an existing collection sold in department store Kohl’s which includes printed dresses, everyday tops, jean, shoes, bags, and more.
In 2017, she collaborated with Giuseppe to create two shoe collections. You could tell that JLo put her personal touch on each pair of heels as they’re made with beads, snake prints, and glitter, and some were gladiator style too. To quote Allure, they’re “so pretty they each deserve their own glass case.”
Fights for a great cause
Jennifer and her mother Lynda Lopez founded The Lopez Family Foundation which “makes quality healthcare and health education available for underserved mothers and their children.” Because of this cause, JLo was honored as the first-ever Global Advocate for Girls and Women by the UN Foundation in 2015.
Can play various characters on film
JLo has a wide film portfolio. Her most iconic role to date was when she played the late Selena Quintanilla in 1999. Aside from that, she’s starred in rom-coms like Maid in Manhattan and action-suspense films like Enough.
This November, she has another film coming up titled Second Act and it’s said to be another rom-com. She’ll also star with Milo Ventimiglia and Vanessa Hudgens.
Strong presence on TV
These days, people know JLo as one of the judges in American Idol. The series may be over but her presence was definitely felt by those who still tuned in even after the original trio—Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell—retired from the show.
Winning the glow-fest
Earlier this year, it was announced that JLo collaborated with Inglot for a limited-edition 70-piece collection. This includes lipsticks, eyeshadow and face palettes, and a loose highlighter pigment to achieve her signature glow. Luck for us here in the Philippines, the collection is already available in all Inglot branches. We also got to swatch the highlighter we mentioned and they weren’t kidding when they said it was blinding.
Art by Marian Hukom
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