Believe it or not, Jennifer Lopez has her insecurities, but she's learned to accept who she is and be proud of her figure.


The 44-year-old singer/dancer/actress and "American Idol" judge opens up about her body image in Cosmopolitan for Latinas' Winter 2013 issue (on newsstands Oct. 29), explaining she fought through stereotypes to get where she is today.


“Early on, my family really made me love who I was and what I looked like. My body was nothing out of the ordinary in my neighborhood," J.Lo, who grew up in the Bronx, N.Y., tells the magazine.


"When I first started on television [as a Fly Girl on 'In Living Color'], people, and even my own manager at the time, would tell me I had to make all of these changes," she continues. "But 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!’ And when you can really believe that, all of a sudden other people start believing too.”


And that confidence has taken her a long, long way. Not only is she selling out stadiums, but she's killing it on the big screen while judging contestants on "American Idol" and raising five-year-old twins as a single mom. (Not to mention she's currently dating 26-year-old Casper Smart.) So how does she balance it all?


“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," she explains. "I walked out onto that stage. And then I did. I’ve been following that rule ever since.”


Check out J.Lo's gorgeous Cosmo for Latina's cover below:


jennifer lopez


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  • Jennifer Lopez in 1997




  • Actress Jennifer Lopez, who plays Selena in the movie 'Selena,' performs in one of the scenes from the movie. 'Selena' is about the Tejano singer who is murdered by her fan club president.




  • On March 13th, 1997, Actress Jennifer Lopez (L) signs a poster for fans as she arrives for the world premiere of the film 'Selena' on in Hollywood. Lopez stars in the title role about the life and death of superstar Latina singer Selena.




  • Jennifer Lopez at the 1998 MTV Movie Awards. The program, hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, will be broadcast on MTV, Thursday, June 4, from 9-11 PM.




  • Jennifer Lopez arrives at the premiere of Columbia Pictures 'The Wedding Planner' January 23, 2001 at Loews Century Plaza Theatre in Century City, CA. (Photo by Chris Weeks/Liaison)




  • Jennifer Lopez arrives for the 73rd Annual Academy Awards on March 25, 2001 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Lopez is wearing a Chanel dress with hair by Oribe and makeup by Scott Barnes.




  • Actress Jennifer Lopez takes a break on the set of her upcoming movie 'Enough' on March 22, 2001 in Pasadena, CA.




  • Presenter Jennifer Lopez backstage at the 74th Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 24, 2002.




  • Jennifer Lopez arrives for the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on August 29, 2002.




  • Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 11th annual Latin GRAMMY Awards at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino on November 11, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.




  • Singer Jennifer Lopez speaks onstage during the 'American Idol' panel at the FOX Broadcasting Company portion of the 2011 Winter TCA press tour held at the Langham Hotel on January 11, 2011 in Pasadena, California.




  • American Idol Judge Jennifer Lopez attends Fox's 'American Idol' Finalist Party on March 3, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.




  • Jennifer Lopez arrives at Fox's 'American Idol' season 10 finale results show held at Nokia Theatre LA Live on May 25, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.




  • Jennifer Lopez on stage at UCLA Longevity Center's 20th Anniversary ICON Awards on June 4, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.




  • Singer Jennifer Lopez arrives for an appearance at Pure Nightclub at Caesars Palace on September 25, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada.




  • Jennifer Lopez promotes her exclusive fashion and home collection for Kohl's Department Stores at Mohegan Sun on October 18, 2011 in Uncasville, Connecticut.




  • Women of the Year award winner Jennifer Lopez attends Glamour's 2011 Women of the Year Awards on November 7, 2011 in New York City.




  • Artist Jennifer Lopez and Atlantico Rum celebrate the upcoming Enrique Iglesias, Jennifer Lopez and Wisin & Yandel Tour at Boulevard3 on April 30, 2012 in Hollywood, California.




  • Actress Jennifer Lopez arrives at the premiere of Lionsgate's 'What To Expect When You're Expecting' held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on May 14, 2012 in Hollywood, California.




  • Jennifer Lopez performs during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.




  • Jennifer Lopez attends her CD signing to celebrate her new album 'LOVE?' held at the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood on May 3, 2011 in Hollywood, California.




  • Jennifer Lopez addresses the crowd as she celebrates the launch of her new single, 'Goin' In' at Hyde Bellagio at the Bellagio May 27, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.