I go by my own standards, and I will be the voice of the curves for the women that feel like they can't stand up for themselves.

It's crazy how your mind works because you can receive hundreds and thousands of all these love posts and all this good affirmation on Instagram or Twitter. And then that one person writes one thing that dims your light but that's the thing you can't let it dim your light, because what I've realized - it's really not your problem, it's theirs.

I think there are more limiting factors in my career than just being chocolate. I think being a curvy girl is also a factor. Being someone with natural hair is also a factor. Those are things that I can't change. Personally, I don't want to live with limitations. If there comes a time where I am dying to play Juliet or Macbeth, I want to make those avenues for myself. The world might limit me, but as the type of artist I am, I'll create those opportunities.

I feel beautiful when I watch the commercials or see myself on a bus. But it's not only because it is me on a bus, it's also what we represent - telling the world to get out of these social norms of what it means to be beautiful.

There's 67 percent of women that are in this plus-size world that we live in. And that's over half of the women in the world. So why are we not dressing for [them]?

I've always gotten like, "you're a queen"' or "yes motha." And "you're beautiful" and a lot of people are saying that because I am confident, and they are finding themselves to be more confident. Especially when you meet them in person.

By no longer operating out of a place of fear. So if you see me on a carpet with my arms and legs out glistening, or my midriff exposed, it's a reminder to myself and the world that I know I'm beautiful.