Jennifer Lopez doubted singing talent
Jennifer Lopez has always doubted her singing ability.
The 'On The Floor' hitmaker admits she used to be insecure about her vocal range and it wasn't until she met her ex-husband Marc Anthony - whom she has five-year-old twins Maximilian and Emme with - that she began to realise she was a successful international popstar due to her talent, and not her flawless looks.
Speaking to Britain's Cosmopolitan magazine, she said: 'The biggest insecurity I had was my singing... Even though I had sold 70 million records, there was this feeling like, 'I'm not good at this'. And while I was married to Marc, he helped me get over it. He kept telling me, 'You're the only one holding yourself back from reaching your full potential as a singer. You have to let go'.
'I was always so insecure. Then I grew, little by little, and realised, wait a minute, this is not a fluke. I'm not a mistake - I work my ass off. And I know what I'm doing.'
The 44-year-old star split with Marc in July 2011 and has been dating choreographer Casper Smart, 26, since October 2011, but she admits her hunky beau has to work for her love.
She explained: 'For me, it's about having a great partner to walk this life with. I have my own high standards for what I want in a partner and how I want to be treated.
'I bring a lot to the table. I'm not talking about the material things but what I have to offer as a person - love and loyalty and all the things that make a good relationship.'
Miss World 2013: Megan Young from Philippines
MANILA, Philippines—Don’t mess with a beauty queen from the Philippines.
Former beauty titlists and Miss World Philippines officials are
rushing to the defense of Megan Young, the Filipino Miss World 2013
title winner who has come under attack from online haters.
On Sunday, a certain Facebook user (Devina DeDiva) criticized
Young’s Miss World victory, dismissing the Philippines as a country of
maids.
The Facebook user said: “Miss Philippines is Miss World? What a
joke? I didn’t know those maids have anything else in them. Hahaha.”
The post has since been taken down from the social networking
site. Inquirer tried to reach that Facebook user, who is alleged to be
based in Singapore and studied at Manchester University, for comment but
has not received a reply at press time.
Soon after the racial slur went online, a hate page attacking the
Facebook user was put up on Tuesday, gaining 11,068 “likes” in a matter
of hours.
Scriptwriter-actress Bibeth Orteza asked on Facebook: “But is
DeDiva even her real name? Is that a surname typical from that part of
the world…a cowardly pseudonym…or a play on ‘diva?’”
Filipino beauty queens have come to Young’s defense against the Facebook hater and other bashers.
Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Miss International 1964, asked pointedly: “What’s wrong with being a maid? Is that a crime?”
Melanie Marquez, Miss International 1979, told the Inquirer: “To
all her detractors, bless your hearts. That’s all I can say. I am proud
of and grateful for Megan’s simplicity and golden heart.”
Jennifer Cortes, Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1978, said: “Seems
the Philippines has become a powerhouse (in the pageant scene). Lots of
people are getting envious. Sad about the personal attacks, but we are a
country of beautiful people.”
Miriam Quiambao, Miss Universe first runnerup 1999, quipped: “I
have nothing to say (to those critics). Let Megan show the world how
great she is as a Filipino woman. Meanwhile, let’s all do our best to
uplift our country by giving nobility to our jobs…wherever we are. This
is a call for everyone to step up and show the world that we are kind,
God-fearing people.”
Fashion model and Miss Visayas-RP 1976 Bessie Badilla quipped:
“They are just sore losers. We shouldn’t waste our time on them. Let us
enjoy Megan’s victory and ignore those who do not wish to celebrate with
us.”
‘Grandmaster’ leads Golden Horse film nominees
TAIPEI, Taiwan — Wong Kar-wai’s martial-arts epic “The Grandmaster”
received a leading 11 nominations for Taiwan’s Golden Horse Awards,
including best picture. Other contenders include Jia Zhangke’s “A Touch
of Sin” and Anthony Chen’s “Ilo Ilo,” each with six nominations.
“The Grandmaster” about the legendary Ip Man is Wong’s biggest
hit, with his stylized emotional imagery punctuated by crowd-pleasing
combat featuring stars Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Ziyi Zhang. It earned $5
million in a limited U.S. release after a $55 million global run.
Wong, Leung and Zhang were nominated Tuesday, and the film will
compete in its category against “A Touch of Sin,” ”Ilo Ilo,” ”Stray
Dogs” and “Drug War” by Hong Kong’s Johnnie To.
The other directing nominees are To, Jia Zhang-ke for “A Touch of
Sin,” Tsai Ming-liang for “Stray Dogs” and Chung Mong-hong for “Soul.”
Anthony Chen is up for best new director for “Ilo Ilo,” alongside
actors-turned-directors Vicki Zhao for “So Young” and Juno Mak for
“Rigor Mortis.”
“Cold War” actor Tony Leung Ka-fai, already named best actor at
the Hong Film Awards, is up for the Golden Horse award for the same
role. Jimmy Wang Yu in “Soul,” Nick Cheung in “Unbeatable” and Lee
Kang-sheng in “Stray Dogs” are the other nominees.
Zhang received her third Golden Horse nomination. Other best
actress nominees are last year’s winner, Gwei Lun-mei, for “Christmas
Rose,” seven-time nominee Shu Qi for the comedy “Journey to the West:
Conquering the Demons,” Sammi Cheng for “Blind Detective” and Hong Kong
newcomer Cherry Ngan for “The Way We Dance.”
The Golden Horse film festival celebrates Chinese-language
cinema, and the awards are the most prestigious for film in the greater
China region. Singapore’s “Ilo Ilo” and Taiwan’s “Soul” are among films
at the festival that are also Oscar entries.
Angelina Jolie sparks wedding rumors with ring finger bauble
MTRX/MTRX/AKM-GSI
Angelina Jolie sports a new ring while taking a shopping trip to Bondi
Junction in Australia. Could she and Brad pitt have tied the knot?
Are
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt already married?
The actress, 38, sported a new ring on her wedding finger while out
with her children in Sydney, Australia on Sunday, sparking rumors that
she and her A-list partner had officially tied the knot.
MTRX/MTRX/AKM-GSI
Jolie with her children in Sydney, Australia.
The "Maleficent" star was photographed with the new bauble as she went shopping on Bondi Beach. According to
E! Online, Jolie has been wearing the second ring, a simple gold band, on her finger since March.
Jolie and Pitt, 49, announced plans to marry in April 2012, but have yet to publicly disclose plans for the actual ceremony.
Jon Furniss/Jon Furniss/Invision/AP
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt
arrive at the World Premiere of 'World War Z' at the Empire Cinema in
London, Sunday June 2. The two announced their engagement in April
2012.
It's not the only time Jolie has set tongues wagging with a new piece of jewelry. In March, Jolie
shot down a reporter who asked whether a new ring was a wedding band. "No, it's not," Jolie responded.
Astrid Stawiarz/WireImage
It's not the first time Jolie
has sparked wedding rumors with a new jewelry purchase. The actress
wore another ring finger sparkler at Women in the World Summit 2013 on
April 4, 2013 in New York City.