Raising The Bar

Jennifer Lopez’s Icon award is a nod to the barriers she’s broken as a singer, dancer, actress and businesswoman

Nasifa Sulaiman

Hollywood history is littered with stars who shine bright for a bit then fizzle out faster than you can say, “What happened to . . .?”

But that can’t be said of Jennifer Lopez. She’s the former fly girl ruling the box office, the movie star dominating the music charts and the girl from the Bronx taking over the beauty and fashion world.

More than two decades after she had her first leading role as the queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla, in 1997, JLo has become an icon in her own right.

This much was cemented recently when she received the icon award at the 2020 E! People’s Choice Awards – and a slew of stars sang her praises.

“Every step she took was the opposite of traditional and she pursued her dreams full force and never waited on somebody else to give her permission,” actor Armie Hammer said when he presented her with her prize.

Long-time friend Nicole Kidman called her the “true definition of an icon” and Renée Zellweger said Jennifer has known how to push boundaries all over the place for decades.

“I long admired your beautiful authentic audacity made of passion, determination, self-respect and courage. If anybody told you why you shouldn’t, you were already busy proving them wrong,” Renée said.

High praise indeed – and it made Jennifer pretty emotional. She broke down as she accepted her gong in front of her 12-year-old twins, Emme and Max, and reflected on the global trauma of 2020.

“This year was the great leveller that showed us what mattered and what didn’t,” she said. “For me, what mattered most: people. All of us, together, helping each other, loving each other, being kind to each other. And I realise it’s what I strive for in everything I do – to reach people, to touch people,” she said.

Jennifer also spoke about having to work twice as hard as a Latina woman and convince people in her circle it was a good thing to have big dreams.