Jennifer Lopez

Getting her start as a dancer on the TV show IN LIVING COLOR, Bronx native Jennifer Lopez first found stardom as an actress, then as a pop/dance singer. Her first three albums swiftly went platinum and her dance-fuelled R&B became a staple of MTV. By the turn of the century, Lopez was one of the world's biggest celebrities, and a symbol of bling. Many turbulent relationships (Puff Daddy, Ben Affleck) made her a tabloid favourite and threatened to scuttle her career, but by the mid-'00s she had settled down with Marc Anthony and returned to the top of the charts.

• pop