I would say a magical thing happened on when the big 40th birthday came. I felt like a light kind of just went off, and maybe that's because I felt like at 40 I had the right to say and be who I wanted to be, say what I wanted to say, and accept what I didn't want to accept.

To make lips look naturally pink, I put on red lipstick, wipe it off, and then apply clear gloss.

The first step is clearly defining what it is you're after, because without knowing that, you'll never get it.

I don't see a white woman. I see a black woman, even though my mother is white. Knowing that has made my life easier, I think.

I know that there is a God - the God within me that's always present and will protect me. I'm not afraid to climb any mountain, because I know that I'm protected. Even if I fall and die, I'm still protected. My faith is on that level.

It gave me strength and toughness because I had to face reality, no matter how uncomfortable or painful it was.

I meditate and pray all the time. The faith and respect that I have in the power of God in my life is what I've used to keep myself grounded, and it has allowed me to move away from the storms that were in my life.