It doesn't have anything to do with how the world perceives you. What matters is what you see.

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

The reason why America was built is so that we would have the ability to choose who we pray to, whether we do or don't.

I live my life because I dare. I dare to show up when everyone else might hide their faces and hide their bodies in shame.

MYOB - mind your own body. It's important because I don't happen to have the kind of body that we usually see on television and in films. I am plus-size. I have dark skin. And I am 100 percent beautiful. But I get a lot of flak - oh, you should lose weight. And now that I have lost weight - and I lost weight for health reasons - I get, you look good but don't lose too much weight because your face is starting to sink in.

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

I don't know any teenager with a positive attitude.