J Lo looks forward to Morocco’s top music festival

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Singer and movie star Jennifer Lopez expressed excitement Thursday about kicking off Morocco’s Mawazine music festival, while insisting she’s still just the girl from the Bronx.

Morocco hosts the 14th edition of its massive 10-day long music festival starting Friday, this year featuring international stars like Pharrell Williams, Sting, Maroon 5, Usher and Akon, as well as dozens of Arab and African acts.

“I’m excited for everyone to see my whole show and experience a Moroccan audience for the first time that way,” Lopez told journalists in the Moroccan capital of Rabat ahead of her scheduled performance, adding that she had long wanted to perform in the country’s signature music festival.

The 45-year-old said the key to beauty was a healthy life, working hard and not drinking or smoking.

“Beauty secrets are really about living a healthy lifestyle and thank god I have since I was young, not that I’m still not young, when I was younger,” she said. “I don’t drink I don’t smoke, I never have, I don’t party, I never been a big partyer, I’ve been more of a worker my whole life.”

She talked about future projects, including a show at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas and a police series called “Shades of Blue” with NBC, as well as at least one more season being a judge on “American Idol.”

“I am still Jenny from the block, that never really leaves you where you are from,” said the superstar, who grew up in the Bronx.

The Mawazine festival is open to the public and performances are mostly free of charge. It started as a way of combating extremism among young people in the country.

Past performers have included Lenny Kravitz, Elton John, Shakira and Mariah Carey.

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