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.

My ass is big because a lot of people have to kiss it.

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.

Thank you for accepting me as I am, with my virtues and defects.

The number of times I have fallen down is the number of times I have gotten up.

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.

If I had the opportunity to speak to a young immigrant girl that just arrived to the U.S. the advice I would have for her would be: ask, speak, search; because there are opportunities out there. And, know that you aren't the only immigrant or the last to come to this country. Many that have come before you have succeeded. It is possible.