People who can't rely on their wits and intelligence to reach success -- that's not what government is about, and that's not what I want.

As a performer, much of my life has been spent in the spotlight. I know how important appearance can be to teens, especially the impact it can have on the way you feel about yourself.

In my heart of hearts, I know that whatever I do is going to have integrity, and I'm going to work really hard, and I know that fans are going to take to it.

See, food I can talk about. I'm Italian, I know the food.

When I got my braces removed, I felt more like a real woman, any traces of my childhood were stripped, just like the cold metal that inhabited my mouth for 2 years.

I think I'm going to put together a compilation under Disney's name of my songs that I've done for them - because I've done six or seven by now! The latest was for the Princess Diaries 2 soundtrack. So that's the next thing that's coming out.

And I'm working with all these great people at Sony Publishing.