It's so weird to turn on a switch and be the role model for all women, for all African-Americans. That doesn't happen that easily. It does not. So I don't act up in public and don't do anything weird, because my sisters are watching me. Not because the world is watching me.

I love the way I look. I'm fine with it. And if my body changes, I'll be fine with that.

When it's time to film and to actually take on the role of Precious, I felt an immense responsibility to do it justice.

My goal was just to live a good life that I was happy with. And I wasn't exactly sure that that meant being the star of a movie.

I certainly used to wish that I was skinny, lighter-skinned, with long, pretty hair. But only because I used to get made fun of for being the absolute opposite. I didn't see all of that stuff as the American Dream. I just wanted to look normal. Now that I'm older, I really do feel like I am a beautiful girl.

I learned to love myself, because I sleep with myself every night and I wake up with myself every morning, and if I don't like myself, there's no reason to even live the life.

I like when red carpets are over. I hate red carpets in general. I don't understand them.