Beauty is deeper than just what you look at in a picture. You could fancy what you like, but as a woman my mother always raised us to believe in ourselves. I'm very grateful for the fact that my mother brought me up that way.

To have this opportunity, in light of my familys struggles, made me want to create something lasting and relevant.

If we don't take care of each other, who will? ... I don't want to ever say, 'I should've done something.'

I believe that true beauty comes from inside you and that always shows through. I have no problem with whatever the next look is, whether it's big blonde hair and blue eyes or green hair and dark eyes. That's fine so long as there isn't just one ideal image.

When it’s all said and done I would like to look back and think that I help to make modelling a possibility for a greater number of people. I don’t do things that I will regret in the future. I tend to err on the side of caution. Not to mention the fact that the present world I reside in would not have been possible without my past. I am most proud of being able to represent my family and community with honour and dignity.

Not everyone is selfish in fashion. There are people who go to bed feeling good about themselves and then spread the love.

I wore hot pants and cowboy boots and I thought, 'What have I gotten myself into?'