Jennifer Lopez talks about her separation from Marc Anthony

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony © Seth Browarnik/Startraks

Her decision to divorce from husband-of-7-years Marc Anthony was based on self-respect and the need to be treated properly. The 42-year old singer and American Idol judge says that in her first interview since the couple announced they were going their separate ways. 

Jennifer says in the September issue of Vanity Fair, "It's not that I didn't love myself before. Sometimes we don't realize that we are compromising ourselves. To understand that a person is not good for you, or that that person is not treating you in the right way, or the he is not doing the right thing for himself, if I stay, then I am not doing the right thing for me." She adds, "I love myself enough to walk away from that now."

Jennifer and Marc did both work on making their marriage work, but "sometimes it doesn't work, and that's sad, but I remain an eternal optimist about love. I believe in love." She does emphasise that Marc will always be an important part of her life, "He will always be in our lives. He will always hold a special place in my heart as the father of my children."

As for now, the most important thing on Jen's agenda is being the best "mother [to 3-year old twins Max and Emme], entertainer and person" she can be.