JLo Touches Down In Melbourne For A Brief Q & A

Is it an armchair or is it a throne? Whatever it is the grandiose red seat is only fit for a diva, and few fit the bill more than Jennifer Lopez. Yet despite her 13 year long career this is her first world tour and premier jaunt down under, about ruddy time too.

Her schedule may be packed tighter than the white skintight outfit few girls half her age would pull off but she still found time for a brief press Q & A before the first of two shows at Melbourne’s cavernous Rod Laver Arena.

First up, the show itself. Those lucky enough to get tickets will be treated to a greatest hits extravaganza encompassing her career to date; from the glamourous Hollywood start to Jenny from The Block via Latin and party stylings. After being wowed she hopes fans will leave “with a message of happiness and hope” as well as several HD images of her impressive choreography no doubt.

For such a global superstar it is evident that she still makes time to give back as her recent hashtagging on Twitter has proven. #Tweet2Meet is going strong and anyone attending shows can tweet a picture of themselves and their ticket for the chance to meet J-Lo herself backstage. Tempting. She even has time to feel selflessly festive with her plans to introduce a Christmas Gift List, not for her but encouraging each of her fans to donate a single dollar to charity.

The steady approach of Christmas also means the X-Factor Final and almost inevitably conversation turned to the reality shows spunked from the spawn of Simon Cowell. As a judge of American Idol for two years Lopez can view the phenomenon from the inside and out. She said: “I knew I loved the show and would be judging from my bed. I didn’t think that being a judge would affect me as much as it did. The show is a really emotional journey.”

With almost instant fame guaranteed from the winners she was gracious in accepting their arrival into the Pop world, even if they do take away column inches from herself. “It’s not about competing, it’s about making your music. No two people are alike, I’m just doing what I do.” Though she did have words of warning for dealing with the press; “You have to learn to navigate the paparazzi and the media. They can be kind and very unkind and it’s about riding this line, knowing you deserve to have a life. It’s a tough thing but it can be done.”

Behind closed doors the performer/actress/singer/dancer transforms into a devout mother to the extent of jetting out her children to be with her on her world tour. She revealed that while she prepares for her shows they spend the afternoons sightseeing around major cities with their grandma. Offstage, J-Lo seems keen to counter measure her own fame and bring a sense of balance to her offspring; “They don’t have a normal life but with the normality of love and home I can do good by them.”

Such an image seems far removed from that of the most powerful female celebrity of 2012 (according to Forbes Magazine). When reminded of the title Lopez seemed a little coy, even embarrassed, yet deemed the accolade as an “acknowledgement of working hard over the years.” Of that there is little doubt as she made her swift exit before preparing for another jaw dropping display.

By Omar Soliman

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