When I was a kid, I needed to sing because it makes me feel good about myself. It makes me feel good, period.

I'm from the element of the streets that says that once you've made it, it's yours. But keep it to yourself.

If you're here right now in your life, your journey continues and you've lived to tell the story.

There are people out there who want to provoke me and bring back the old Mary but I'm not giving them the satisfaction.

I listen to gospel music.

You can look at my palm and see the storm coming. Read the book of my life and see I've overcome it.

I felt ashamed about everything. Me dropping out of high school, me not, you know, just not being beautiful enough. I just didn't feel like I was smart enough or beautiful enough, you know, for years.