The Important Reason Jennifer Lopez Made Such a Big Deal About Turning 50 Years Old

It's not common for women in the public eye to talk about their age past a certain point in their lives, so it was notable that Jennifer Lopez bucked that trend in a huge way by celebrating her 50th birthday with a massive summer tour.

But the singer and actress actually had a very important reason for doing so, other than just wanting to party all summer long. In her travel vlog, where she's been chronicling her birthday tour on YouTube, she shared that many of the people around her couldn't understand why she was making a big deal out of her birthday, specifically in that she was touting her age.

"For me, was important," the "World of Dance" creator said. "It was important as a woman to do that; to let people know that you don't get to write women off at a certain point in their life. You don't get to write people off."

She's also found the entire experience surprisingly liberating, letting go of all the stigma and paranoia and fear about growing older. "You're getting better and better as you go, so long as you are open to the experience of growing and evolving," she says she realized.

And Lopez wasn't the only one inspired by her age confidence, which actually came as a surprise for her. "I didn't realize that in just being myself and being unafraid to say that to the world: I'm a woman, I'm 50 years old and I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere, was gonna mean so much to so many people," Lopez shared.

For her, it was just about owning her truth and being fearless in that same way she's attacked her entire career. Lopez has had one of the most remarkable journeys through the entertainment industry, becoming a legend on the dance floor, Billboard charts and at the box office. And all of this because of her tenacity, strength and that absolute fearlessness.

Of course turning 50 wasn't going to make Jennifer Lopez flinch. Instead, it inspired her to embrace five decades of life and experience, take stock of all that she's accomplished already and prove to the world that she's got so much more to give.

"Here endeth the lesson and the journey," Lopez said to close her vlog. "Be your best authentic self. That's the key to happiness, to love, and to making the world dance."

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