Jennifer Lopez has revealed she was homeless before she got her big break.
The US singer and actress is worth millions now, but told W magazine that she was once so broke when she was a wannabe dancer that she had to sleep on a sofa in a studio.
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Things changed in 1991 when J-Lo was cast as a Fly Girl dancer on the American television show 'In Living Colour'.
J-Lo, who left home to pursue her dreams at 18, said: "My mom and I butted heads. I didn't want to go to college - I wanted to try dance full-time. So she and I had a break. I started sleeping on the sofa in the dance studio. I was homeless, but I told her, 'This is what I have to do.'
"A few months later, I landed a job dancing in Europe. When I got back, I booked In Living Colour. I became a Fly Girl and moved to LA. It all happened in a year."
But the former American Idol judge, now 43 and mum to five-year-old twins Max and Emme, admitted she wasn't a fan of Los Angeles at first and missed her home in the Bronx.
"I hated LA," she said. "I was asking, 'Where's the store for milk? Don't you guys walk on the street?' Now I love Los Angeles, but it doesn't give me strength the way the Bronx did. All the strength that I needed for life, I got from that neighbourhood."
Actress Jennifer Lopez filming Selena. (credit:Getty Images)
2000(02 of26)
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Actress Jennifer Lopez wears a denim dress with long gold scarf and matching belt. (credit:Getty Images)
2002(03 of26)
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Singer Jennifer Lopez performs wearing all white: hotpants, boots, wide-brimmed hat and zip top. (credit:Getty Images)
2002(04 of26)
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American singer and actor Jennifer Lopez stands backstage, wearing a pink tracksuit and cap. (credit:Getty Images)
2000(05 of26)
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Jennifer Lopez in that Versace dress at the Grammy Awards. (credit:Getty Images)
2003(06 of26)
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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck attend the Academy Awards. She wears a light green on shouldered dress with statement jewellery. (credit:Getty Images)
2003(07 of26)
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Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez wears a black leather jacket with boyfriend Ben Affleck watching the New York Yankees. (credit:Getty Images)
2003(08 of26)
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Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez looks smart wearing a skirt, shirt and jumper. (credit:Getty Images)
2005(09 of26)
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Actress Jennifer Lopez leaves her A/W 2005 show during New York Fashion Week wearing a full-length fur coat. (credit:Getty Images)
2005(10 of26)
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Jennifer Lopez performs wearing a cut out gold top and black trousers with her hair short and curly. (credit:Getty Images)
2005(11 of26)
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Actress Jennifer Lopez wears a grey jumper with silver fishtail skirt and matching belt for her film premiere. (credit:Getty Images)
2006(12 of26)
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Actress Jennifer Lopez matches her dark outfit with her newly dyed dark hair. (credit:Getty Images)
2007(13 of26)
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Actress Jennifer Lopez wears a one-shoulder coral pink gown. (credit:Getty Images)
2008(14 of26)
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Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez shows her baby bump in this floor-length brown dress. (credit:Getty Images)
2009(15 of26)
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Singer Jennifer Lopez wears a figure hugging black dress with knee-high boots. (credit:Getty Images)
2011(16 of26)
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Actress and siger Jennifer Lopez wears black top and grey scarf. (credit:Getty Images)
2011(17 of26)
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Jennifer wears a cream embellished catsuit. (credit:Getty Images)
2011(18 of26)
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Jennifer Lopez wears a figure hugging red dress with shoulder detail. (credit:Getty Images)
2011(19 of26)
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US singer and actress Jennifer Lopez rocks boho chic with this dress and matching headband. (credit:Getty Images)
2011(20 of26)
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Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez arrives at the BAFTAs wearing a cut out dark green dress. (credit:Getty Images)
2011(21 of26)
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Jennifer Lopez dazzles in this short silver number. (credit:Getty Images)
2012(22 of26)
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Entertainer Jennifer Lopez arrives for the Academy Awards wearing a white a gold dress with plunge neckline. (credit:Getty Images)
2012(23 of26)
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Jennifer Lopez wears another plunge neckline. (credit:Getty Images)
2012(24 of26)
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Actress Jennifer Lopez attends the Los Angeles premiere of What To Expect When You're Expecting wearing a cream dress with deep red lips. (credit:Getty Images)
2012(25 of26)
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Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez celebrates the launch of her new single, Goin' In wearing a short white and gold dress. (credit:Getty Images)
2012(26 of26)
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Jennifer Lopez performs on stage wearing a silver corset. (credit:Getty Images)