Angie Romero

Dear Jennifer, 

I’m a lifelong J.Lover. And it is from that place of love that I write this. 

Over the last year there has been a lot of vitriol towards you. People are hoping you fail, but let me just say this: they do not represent all of us. There are those of us out here who believe that you deserve to be successful. 

In fact, as a Latina, we need you NOT to fail. There aren’t too many of us in your position and a win for you is a win for us – at least that’s how I’ve always felt. 

It is your definition of success that we have come to question. What do you value at this stage in your career: Your legacy? Artistic evolution? Accumulating wealth? Maintaining a lifestyle? Staying in the pop culture conversation? There is no right or wrong answer, of course, but there is a path to preserving your energy and wellbeing, and thus, your greatness. 

You are the hardest working woman in showbiz, there is no question. We see the work you put into everything you do – most recently, that choreography for the AMAs. There are people in their twenties who wish they could move like that. And yes, you make me want to go to the gym, so thank you for that. When I was younger I yearned for that J.Lo glow, until I realized that no cream or serum will do that for you until you work on yourself from the inside out.

But here’s the thing: you shine the most when you’re not trying so hard. You are Jennifer Lynn Lopez, damn it! You don’t have to prove anything at this point, and you are the most memorable and inspirational version of yourself when you choose what to take on with intention. 

I can only imagine what your schedule looks like for the next year, but what if you slowed down and took on only things that serve your highest purpose, which, at least in my mind, is to be one of our GOATs?

I believe that if Selena came out today you would get your Oscar, or at least that elusive nomination. It was simply ahead of its time and the Academy wasn’t ready then to appreciate a Latino story like that (they are hardly ready now but at least they’re putting on the right facade). You put your heart and soul into that role, and several others since (El Cantante, Hustlers, Unstoppable, to name a couple).  

When paired with the right material, there is no denying your greatness. I dream of the day when we can see you onstage on Broadway, for instance, where your raw talents are on display and it’s just you, connecting with the audience, not in some spectacular fashion but in an intimate, meaningful way. Who’s to say you can’t break records there like Denzel just did with Othello?

But the promise of your greatness gets diluted when we are bombarded with things carrying your name. In an era of economic uncertainty, how many things can we realistically pay to see / experience in a given year? Even if we wanted to indulge in everything you’re selling us, the oversaturation of content we are exposed to makes it impossible. We have no choice but to be selective. 

I hope you can be selective, too, even if — and I’m not saying this is the case but it often is with stars of your caliber — those on your payroll don’t challenge you to do less.

I wish you a successful second Vegas residency (which I won’t be going to since I already went to your first one). 

I’m much more interested in what you’ll do next. Or, rather, what you won’t do.

Con amor y respeto, 

Angie