When I started getting so many haters and closed doors, I decided to prove that it could be done. I was a divorced single mother of three at the time and a size 12 - not your typical model artist that labels feel work for the music industry.

Whenever I took a step forward, it seemed as though life was pushing me five steps back.

The key to success in life is getting up early.

No one else has ever opened doors for me - I opened them myself.

I've been recording since 1993. It was a hobby for six of those years. In 1999, I decided to do it full time and take it seriously.

Perhaps trying to move away from my problems and focus on the positive is the best I can do.

Usually, when a young girl is pregnant, she drops out of school and concentrates on being a mother. I thought thats what I had to do, but my counselors told me there was no way they would let me drop out. I had too much promise.