It was like I couldn't even begin to tell my mom I was singing. I didn't want anyone to think that she was trying to get me to sing. I wanted to prove to myself I could do it on my own. I really wanted to do a completely different thing.

Between my mom and dad, I would hear a lot of Earth, Wind, and Fire. My mom loved Chaka Khan, so that was on in the car a lot.

I wanted to fight to get into the front. I was just hungry to do it.

The women in my family are just strong women who do their own thing, so I knew I needed to have individuals like that.

I think the lion, besides the elephant, was the one animal that I just started thinking about so much.

The greatest blessing is that, within all of this, I've still been challenged every day to question and show who I am.

I grew up always wanting to be a dancer and when I went to New York, I fell in love with the idea of performing in all ways.