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One of the most recognizable stars in Hollywood, Sylvester Stallone is the face of some of pop culture’s most beloved film franchises. However, Stallone’s rise to the top was no easy ride, full of hardships and extreme difficulties. Working at a deli whilst trying to support a family in his 20s, money was hard to come by. Financial struggles led to him having to sell his wife’s jewelry just to make ends meet. At his lowest point, in 1970, the Rambo star also had to sell his beloved bullmastiff Butkus for just $25 to a stranger at a local shop. This particularly sad part of Stallone’s life has a happy resolution, with the star eventually reuniting with his lost hound after making it big. Never giving up despite adversity, Stallone’s incredible attitude and desire to succeed echoes that of his most well-known role, Rocky Balboa.
During his struggles, Stallone wrote the script for Rocky, which proved to have huge appeal to potential producers. The script was written tailored towards his own strengths and, as a result, he refused to have anyone else play the titular role. Stallone turned down some of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time, including Robert Redford and Burt Reynolds, in favor of taking on the role himself. Rocky proved to be a huge commercial and critical success, going on to be awarded the Best Picture Academy Award in 1977. It seems very appropriate for Stallone himself to be the star of a film focusing on rags to riches story considering his own life. On the back of showcasing his acting talents in the massive hit, the New York native would go on to star as the equally iconic Rambo. Stallone remains successful today, having written and starred in The Expendables, with the next installment in the franchise scheduled for release in 2022.
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J-Lo’s Secrets to Happiness
J-Lo first found success as a dancer and Latina actress in the early 90s. She became a crossover star in the mid-’90s starring opposite Woody Harrelson in Money Train. When she released her debut album in 1999, it became an instant hit, and suddenly her name was on everyone’s lips. While J-Lo has been gracing our screens for over 20 years, and there’s no doubt that she is a successful actress, musician, and fashion icon, it’s no secret that her love life has been pretty turbulent.
From her ill-fated love affair with Sean Combs, aka P, Diddy to three failed marriages, it’s surprising that she still has a smile on her face wherever she goes. Of course, in July 2021 fans were rapt when she was pictured sharing a kiss with Ben Affleck, her former beau. The pair had split in January 2004, after their engagement broke down. Now they are firmly back together and seem happier than ever.
So, what secrets does J-Lo share about happiness? The hot star says, "As girls, I think we are taught from a very young age that someone is going to bring us our happiness. I was waiting for Prince Charming. Everybody I met was going to be the guy I was going to spend my life with. And then you realize, 'I’m strong, I’m my own keeper, my own savior'. That’s been the journey for me." It should be printed in our school books that no one else is responsible for your own happiness, but somehow that message gets lost along the way.
As a mother, a hard-working woman, and someone who has definitely earned every second of her success, it’s true that Lopez lives by her own words. Perhaps now that she knows who she really is, she’ll actually get the happy-ever-after that she truly deserves?
