I am Ecuadorian but people felt so safe passing me off as a skinny, blue-eyed white girl.

My elementary school days were miserable. After Star Search, the jealousy got really bad that our neighbors slashed our tires.

Let's get glam. It's all in the way you move. Let's get glam. Don't let the clothes wear you. Let's get glam. It's all an attitude.

It's hard being such a powerful woman in the business. I'm known for not always being warm and fuzzy, because you'll just get bulldozed over.

It's been quite a roller coaster ride, but I've grown and learned a lot about myself. The greatest thing is being able to interact with fans and touch people's lives... for that I give thanks.

I still have my eyes on the prize: I want to be that old lady onstage shaking her hips and singing her greatest hits.

I've always been inspired even more by any naysayers to keep going for what I really want and they've almost been my inspiration many times more so than any positive people around me to conquer.