Jennifer Lopez: 'I was homeless'

A Chinese company organised Jennifer Lopez's visit to Turkmenistan. Photo / AP

Jennifer Lopez used to be homeless.

The Dance Again hitmaker, 43, who has five-year-old twins Max and Emme with her ex-husband Marc Anthony, often slept in a dance studio as a teenager after having arguments with her mother about her career plans.

She told W magazine: "My mum 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 Color. I became a Fly Girl and moved to LA. It all happened in a year."

Despite enjoying her newfound freedom, Jennifer initially hated living in Los Angeles after relocating there from the Bronx, New York.

She explained: "I hated LA 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."

Jennifer, who is dating her former back-up dancer Casper Smart, 25, also revealed she is eager to pass on her ambition and work ethic to her children.

She said: "I think a lot about teaching my kids to work hard. I've learned something about kids - they don't do what you say; they do what you do. I watched my parents. My dad worked nights, and I was aware of how much he was doing for us.

"My mum was a Tupperware lady and also worked at the school. I always felt that I couldn't let them down. And I had a natural discipline from early on. I was always training for something.

"I can remember dancing and singing in front of the mirror in my bedroom. I've always had dreams - the dreams have just gotten bigger."