Jennifer López: "I Am Very Proud To Say I Grew Up In The Bronx"

After all, she's still Jenny from the Block! Singer and actress Jennifer López told Cosmopolitan for Latinas that her childhood neighborhood, the Bronx, will forever hold a place in her heart.

"I am very proud to say I grew up in the Bronx, because, among other things, I was brought up in a neighborhood that looked like a small part of  Puerto Rico " she said, according to Univisión.

"That passion and joy that conveyed my family and our neighbors helped me face challenges with optimism. It was a community that always exhibited great love and affection for each other, proving that anything is possible in life if you put your heart into it," said the 41-year-old artist.

López also confessed being proud of her Puerto Rican roots. "I love the family that I grew up in," she said, according to the Huffington Post. "The strength and passion and the heart that we bring to things and then they way I was raised -- the intense love we demonstrate."

The "On The Floor" singer grew up in New York and recalls that one movie in particular made a huge impact on her as a young girl. "I was moved by West Side Story as a young girl and seeing Puerto Ricans star in it. Even though it wasn't the best depiction of us, they still have the passion and love I can relate to," said López.  

"Even though it wasn't the best depiction of us, they still have the passion and love that I relate to -- not to mention the singing and dancing! Rita Moreno became a hero to me," she said of the Latina actress who won an Oscar for her role as Anita in the film.

López also opened up about her family and the importance of being confident and determined. "Early on, my family really made me love who I was and what I looked like. You have to stand up and say, 'There's nothing wrong with me or my shape or who I am, you're the one with the problem!"

"One day somebody told me I had to perform in front of 35,000 people on the set of Selena. I didn't know how to do it, I just said to myself 'Don't think about it. You can do this and you'll be great, And then I did. I've been following that rule ever since," López told Cosmopolitan.