As A Woman We Work Twice As Hard To Get Opportunities, Jennifer Lopez At People's Choice Icon Award
The Hustlers star said, "As a Latina and as a woman, we have to work twice as hard to get the opportunities, sometimes my big dreams and my ambitions, it made the people around me nervous.
Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez was named the People's Icon of 2020 during the E! People's Choice Awards show on Sunday. Lopez wore a stunning red and began her acceptance speech saying, "Oh, my god 2020 man, 2020 was no joke, right? I mean, before 2020 we were obsessing about winning this award, getting nominated for that award, we were caught up on who sold the most records or who had the biggest box office opening or crazy stuff... This year was the great leveler. It showed us what mattered, what didn't and for me, reinforced what matters most—people."
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She received the award for her contribution to the music and film industries -- from performing at the Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year to starting her career portraying Selena Quintanilla in the 1997 cult biopic Selena.
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'To reach people, to touch people'
Lopez, 51, told viewers how this year showed her what mattered and what didn't. "And for me, reinforced what mattered most: People, all of us, together. Helping each other, loving each other, being kind to each other. And the importance of that connection, that human touch. I realized that's what I strive for in everything I do. To reach people, to touch people. I believe that's what we all want, those shared experiences to know that we're not in this alone. Your belief and your faith in me motivates me to keep going and sometimes when I'm tired or beaten down, like a lot of us have been this year, it's my family, friends, my babies and my fans, you guys, who have lifted me up when I couldn't lift myself. I am so grateful to have you, to have that in my life," she thanked her fans. She is a fan favourite since her first album release in 1999. Till now, Lopez has sold more than 75 million records worldwide.
The Hustlers star continued, "As a Latina and as a woman, we have to work twice as hard to get the opportunities, sometimes my big dreams and my ambitions, it made the people around me nervous. 'You can't be an actress. You're an actress, what you want to sing? You're an artist, you won't be taken seriously as a businesswoman.' The more that they said I couldn't, the more I knew that I had to. So now here I stand so very grateful knowing that the true measure of my success is not in box office numbers or records sold, but from the love that I feel from all of you." For her most recent film Hustlers, she earned nominations for the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and NAACP Image Awards. Lopez and Shakira made headlines during their Super Bowl halftime show earlier this year, earning more than 102 million viewers.
In an emotional speech, she inspired girls and women of all ages and colours reflecting, "The true measure is inspiring girls in all ages and all colors, from all over the world, to know you can do whatever want, as many things as you want and to be proud of who you are no matter where you come from. I want them to know your dreams are limited only by your imagination, determination and their willingness to never give up. If I have touched you or them in any small way, then this is the greatest award I could ever receive. I accept this award with great humility and gratitude, and hope we can begin to heal as a country and stand together united and proud, and in harmony."
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