Jennifer Lynn Lopez

Regarded as the most influential Hispanic performer in the United States, Lopez has often been credited with breaking racial barriers in the entertainment industry. The Record newspaper stated that she was responsible for the introduction of Latin presence in the film industry. In Icons of American Popular Culture: From P.T. Barnum to Jennifer Lopez (2009), author Robert C. Cotrell describes Lopez as the Hispanic version of Oprah Winfrey, stating that she is the embodiment of the American dream, "Boasting a far more authentic rags-to-riches tale" as a "multidimensional artist who had turned into a financial powerhouse". In 2012, Forbes opined that Lopez "may be the most powerful entertainer on the planet". Her critically acclaimed performance in the film Selena profoundly effected younger Latin performers, with Lopez emerging as "one of the first in a generation of women in entertainment to create a veritable empire". Lopez is the highest-paid actress of Latin descent, while also regarded as the wealthiest actress in Hollywood. Writer Priscilla Peña Ovalle wrote that Lopez "has arguably become the century's most successful Latina". Miriam Jiménez Román stated in The Afro-Latin Reader: History and Culture in the United States (2009) that "she was able to traverse the difficult racial boundaries". As a result of launching a career in music, Lopez's influence over the Latin public grew; she played a part in the "Latin explosion" that was occurring in entertainment at the time. Around this time, the emphasis on Lopez's curvaceous figure grew; scholar Sean Redmond wrote in Stardom and Celebrity (2007) that this was a sign of her role and social power in the cultural changes occurring in the United States. The Daily Herald described Lopez as "crossover royalty". In February 2007, People en Español named her the most influential Hispanic.
VH1 ranked Lopez at number 15 on a list of "200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons", number 16 on "100 Greatest Women In Music", and number 21 on "50 Greatest Women of the Video Era". She has sold over 55 million records worldwide. Her album J to tha L-O! The Remixes was acknowledged by the Guinness World Records as the first number one remix album in the United States. In 2010, Lopez was honored by the World Music Awards with the Legend Award for her contribution to the arts. Lopez's musical comeback the following year with her single "On the Floor"—one of the best-selling singles of all time, and its music video the most-watched female music video in history—is regarded as one of the greatest comebacks in history. Lopez remains the only entertainer to have a number one album and film simultaneously in the United States. In 2013, Lopez was presented with the prestigious landmark 2,500th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her musical contributions, with the Los Angeles Times declaring, "It's hard to think of a more emblematic figure of multitasking modern celebrity."
Famed for her distinctive fashion style, Us Weekly named Lopez "Style Icon" of the 2000s decade. The Green Versace "Jungle Dress" that she wore at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards in 2000 was voted the fifth most iconic dress of all time in a poll run by The Daily Telegraph. Lopez's style has influenced a range of celebrities. Her record-breaking fragrance line has become the most successful celebrity line in the world, with sales exceeding $2 billion. Lopez has been credited as an idol or influence by a range of entertainers, including Jessica Alba, Kat DeLuna, Kerry Washington, Becky G, Britney Spears, Q’orianka Kilcher, Selena Gomez, Beyoncé Knowles, Raquel Castro, Karen Rodriguez, Layla El, Mike Doughty, Stooshe, Naya Rivera, and Pitbull.