Jennifer Lopez was moved to tears at the 2020 E! People's Choice Awards.
The singer, actress and dancer was named the People’s Icon during the awards show on Sunday (November 15) at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Dazzling in a red Christian Siriano ensemble, Lopez accepted the honor with a powerful and inspiring speech on her career and what it means to be a role model for other Latina girls around the world.
“Man, 2020 was no joke right? I mean before 2020 we were obsessing about winning this award or getting nominated for that award or we were caught up in who sold the most records or box office opening or crazy stuff like did we get the latest drop before anybody else,” Lopez started. “But not this year. This year was the great leveler.”
“It showed us what mattered, 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,” she continued. “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.”
Elsewhere, Lopez 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.”
Coming to tears, the 51-year-old spoke on how she measures her success as an entertainer.
“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,” Lopez said. “I want them to know your dreams are limited only by your imagination, determination and their willingness to never give up.”
She concluded, “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.”
Photo: Getty Images