Fans Eat Up Lopez's Stop At Ibiza

World- famous performer Jennifer Lopez came to Uptown Whittier on Monday.
After darting virtually unseen through a side entrance to Ibiza Steak and Lounge on Greenleaf Avenue, Lopez, clad in tight jeans and a red sweater, spent several hours with 300 die-hard fans who were invited to a backstage breakfast hosted by radio station Power 106 FM and Lopez's record label. Power 106 personality Big Boy also was there.

Fans like Bianca Gutierrez, who said she planned to ask Jennifer Lopez to marry her, and Tania Quinones, who brought along her modeling portfolio to show to the actress/singer/fashion designer.

"I've been a fan since fifth- grade, so I called the radio station and talked to Fuzzy and got on,' said Quinones, 19, of Corona. "I think he liked the idea that JLo and I are both from Puerto Rico.'

"I basically harassed the station until I got on,' added Maha Salama, 21, of La Mirada, who came with Gutierrez and Quinones. "I wanted to see her because she's real.'

While fans, who won spelling bees and look-alike-contests in recent weeks to get invited to the breakfast, got in easily, the press and local residents were kept outside by a huge security force.

An employee from Power 106 said Lopez did not want her picture taken, and the security personnel from Ibiza and the radio station swarmed in front of Ibiza's entrances to keep people at bay.

Those outside got only a brief glimpse of the superstar. That was a little after 3 p.m., when she walked into the alley next to the club, perched on the side of a black Lincoln Navigator and waved to the crowd.

"Selena, Selena, we loved you in Selena,' came shouts in unison, as the vehicle sped away down the alley.

The event was such a success, said Ibiza owner Ralph Verdugo, that he hopes to host Brittney Spears or maybe Beyonce at the club in the future.

"We hope to continue pumping up the reputation of the club,' he said.