When I was five years old I was molested and just, you know. I remember feeling, literally right before it happened, I just could not believe that this person was going to do this to me. That thing followed me all my life. The shame of thinking my molestation was my fault - it led me to believe I wasn't worth anything.

I don't listen to people's opinions. I have people around me who I can trust, but most of all I listen to myself.

I used to think I was ugly. I thought I looked like a camel. A person who doesn't love themselves, they will see anything that pops up on their face. I've seen squirrels, I've seen a bird, and I've seen all kinds of animals on my face. But that is the result of self-hate. I've learned to say: 'You know what? I am a beautiful black woman'.

When you come from so many damaged places you don't ever want to spiral back there, so you gotta continue to check yourself.

I'm my worst critic, and I like the fact that I can listen to myself now and make fun of myself, listen, make changes - 'Oh, man, that's messed up. Okay, I need to work on that; I need to work on this.'

Don't go a full day or night without washing your face. You have to get all the dirt and makeup out of your pores.

It's that first step-getting out the door-that's the toughest. If you can do that, you've already won.