JLo believes in love

Jennifer Lopez remains "optimistic" about love and is feeling "strong" despite the recent break-up of her third marriage to Marc Anthony

Jennifer Lopez remains "optimistic" about love and is feeling "strong" despite the recent break-up of her third marriage.

The 41-year-old star has opened up about her plans for the future in her first interview since announcing her split from husband Marc Anthony and insists she believes in relationships and is focusing on her career and her three-year-old twins Max and Emme.

"That was my biggest dream, and I really worked hard at it. We both did," Lopez told Vanity Fair magazine.

"Sometimes it doesn't work - and that's sad. But I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love.

"It's still my biggest dream. I am positive - determined to move forward with my life, bring up my babies, and do the best job I can as a mother, entertainer, and person.

I now look forward to new challenges. I feel strong."

Describing herself as a "hopeless romantic" Lopez is feeling more confident than ever. The singer and actress - who previously dated Ben Affleck and P Diddy - also spoke about feeling trapped in the wrong relationship, insisting she now has the strength of character to make it on her own.

"It's not that I didn't love myself before. Sometimes we don't realise that we are compromising ourselves," she explained.

Despite announcing her split from Latin singer Anthony just a few weeks ago, Lopez has only positive things to say about her estranged husband. She has vowed to remain on good terms with him for the sake of their children and she is grateful they had a family together.

"I will always respect Marc as a singer and performer," she added. "We actually work great together, and he was always very supportive. Together we could make magic - and we did... He will always hold a special place in my heart as the father of my children."