A consummate multitasker, Jennifer Lopez juggles the roles of actress, singer, producer and entrepreneur.
Lopez is finishing her sixth album, a Spanish-language record, and has produced and starred in her next two films, “El Cantante” and “Bordertown.” But she is known in the fashion world as a style setter.
In 2001, Lopez entered the fashion business with Andy Hilfiger and established Sweetface Fashion Co., which now has annual sales of $200 million and includes JLo by Jennifer Lopez junior sportswear, outerwear, lingerie, footwear, watches and jewelry, as well as the Sweetface contemporary collection and four fragrances.
Though Lopez is often photographed wearing high-fashion designs by Versace, Valentino, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton, accented with jewelry by Fred Leighton, Harry Winston and Neil Lane, she has managed to create an image to which her customers can relate. In her hit “Jenny From the Block,” Lopez, who is from The Bronx, sings, “Don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got — I’m still Jenny from the block.”
Lopez grew up in modest circumstances.
“It is often difficult to appeal to such a wide variety of consumers, but with Jennifer’s status as a modern-day style icon and her hands-on involvement, the JLo jewelry line accomplishes such a feat,” said Gabrielle Fialkoff, vice president of Haskell Jewels, licensee of the JLo jewelry line, which retails from $18 to $85. “Mixing high fashion with street chic, the JLo line brings fashion-forward design to the everyday consumer. With Jennifer’s creative direction, we have been able to relay her unique sense of fashion and style to the accessories world.”
Lopez’s star began rising when she received widespread acclaim for her acting in the title role of “Selena” in 1997, which brought her a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in a drama. Then Lopez — and her famous figure — went on to garner praise for her role opposite George Clooney in Steven Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight.” In 2001, Lopez made history when she became the first woman to have the number-one movie, “The Wedding Planner,” and number-one album, “J.Lo,” in the same week.
The actress, who got her show business break as a dancer on the TV show “In Living Color,” made her feature film debut in the acclaimed feature “Mi Familia.” Her other film credits include Oliver Stone’s “U-Turn,” “Money Train” with Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes, Francis Ford Coppola’s “Jack” with Robin Williams, “Blood and Wine” opposite Jack Nicholson, Luis Mandoki’s “Angel Eyes,” Michael Apted’s thriller “Enough” and “Anaconda” with Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz and Ice Cube. She most recently starred opposite Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman in Lasse Hallström’s “An Unfinished Life.” Her production company, Nuyorican, is in postproduction on three feature films plus a reality-TV series for MTV called “Moves.”
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Lopez also supports philanthropic endeavors, including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Children’s Health Fund and Amnesty USA.org. Last year, she received the Courage to Care Award for her work with CHLA.