Lopez frequently refers to herself as a “tomboy jock” during her youth. Her athletic background was extensive: She competed in middle-distance running events (such as the 800m and 1,500m) at a national level. She even famously claimed to have run a blazing 4:49 mile. She trained as a gymnast, which heavily aided her high-energy choreography skills later in life. She was an active member of the school’s varsity softball team.

Alongside sports, her passion for the entertainment industry began developing right on the high school stage: She actively participated in the school’s musical theater program. She landed a major lead role in a high school production of the musical Godspell, where she sang “Day by Day.”

“I remember watching Rita Moreno in West Side Story and going, ‘That’s what I want to do. I want to sing and I want to dance and I want to act,’” she said.

Upon graduating from Preston High School, she briefly took up a job at a law office and attended Baruch College for a single semester. She ultimately decided to drop out to pursue full-time dance training, which paved the way for her breakout gig as a “Fly Girl” dancer on In Living Color.