Jennifer Lopez: 'I need to be happy on my own'

Jennifer Lopez has not only gottenmore beautiful with age, but also wiser. The 46-year-old singer-actress openedup in a new interview on the Today Show about accepting herself in her 40s and inspiringothers.

“It’s important to me,” the starsaid of being an inspiration to other women. “Being in this business sincemy early 20s, that there was always a moment where they are going to try and writeyou off. It’s like, don’t write us off at a certain point in our lives. We haveso much to offer.”

Photo: Getty Images

She continued, “I feel like I knew nothing in my 20s, but I thought I kneweverything and in my 30s I kind of realized I knew nothing, like I actuallydidn’t know anything and then in my 40s now I feel like oh I’m starting toaccept myself for who I am.”

The "Booty" singer, who will begin her Las Vegas residencyJanuary 20, graces the cover of InStyle’s February issue. While themulti-talented star is enjoying her fabulous 40s, she admitted to the magazinethat she doesn’t need a man to be content.

"I need to be happy on my own," she said. "If someone fits into that, great. But if they don’t, that’s OK too."

Credit: Greg Kadel

Jennifer added, "As girls, Ithink we are taught from a very young age that someone is going to bring us ourhappiness. I was waiting for Prince Charming. Everybody Imet was going to be the guy I was going to spend my life with. And then yourealize, 'I'm strong, I'm my own keeper, my own savior.' That’s been thejourney for me."

Just because the Shades of Blue actress is her “ownsavior” doesn't mean she can't date. The songstress admitted on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday that she and herbeau Casper Smart celebrated the New Year together in Miami.

And while, Jennifer gifted herman a tuxedo for Christmas, she assured Ellen, she will not be walking down theaisle any time soon. She said, “No wedding. There’s no wedding.”

WATCH JENNIFER'S INTERVIEW BELOW