Out of Sight (1998) can be seen both as a groundbreaking film as much as a film that simply fed the stereotype placed upon Latinas. With her role in this movie, the gorgeous Jennifer Lopez proved her “bankability in crossover role in an A-list film and become the first Latina to earn over a million dollars with her reported $2 million salary” (Beltran). However, it is clear that Jennifer Lopez’s ethnicity is nothing but a side note of the film. Nonetheless, after Out of Sight, she gained a massive amount of attention, and everyone started talking about her promiscuous lower back. At that time she, in fact, unapologetically stated that she refused to conform to the ideal Hollywood female skinny body type. Although I do agree with Beltran’s point in about Lopez being defined as of bicultural appeal to both Latino and non-Latino audiences, I do also think that this is only possible due to her sexualization on screen.
She is seen as the “sexy” Latina, the body to be looked at, despite portraying a badass investigator like in Out of Sight, she’s still required to wear appealing and sexual attire. On the other hand, it is also true that Lopez was always clear about it, she was proud of her body in her publicity. She was far from being uncomfortable, but much rather celebrate the body full of curves like hers meant. She said, “I don’t know what it is with everyone, I guess I’m a little hippy. Latinas and black women have a certain body type. We’re curvy. It’s in the history books. I didn’t start a revolution. But I don’t mind if the big-butted women in the world are a little happier because of a few cameramen’s obsession with my behind.” Her attitude towards the society and her body made her in complete control of the male gaze.
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