Growing up in the Bronx, Lopez once thought her future was small-time. “Citibank was near my house, and I figured I’d work there, close to home,” she said, recalling school doubts. “New York was this big, shiny thing, and the Bronx felt tiny. I thought that was my lot.”
But Lopez broke free and teamed up with Hollywood A-listers. She credits her success to tuning out the haters, inside and out. “For me, the key is ignoring outside noise and making sure the voice in my head is a cheerleader, someone who lifts me up.”
Lopez’s climb from self-doubt to icon is a tale of toughness and belief. By not letting criticism hold her back, she built her empire her way, showing the power of never giving up.