I was always told to avoid being famous just for being famous. That's something that has always stuck in my mind. I like to work. It helps if you like what you do.

Patrick Demarchelier was the one who got me my first Vogue cover. It was French Vogue - I think in ’87 or ’88. I think I was the first black model to be on the cover of French Vogue, which was shocking to me because when I asked them about it, they were like, "Oh, no. We’ve never had that before."

I'm not angry. And I don't like the thing of the 'angry black woman,' either.

Yes, I did and a lot of my friends who are in the same program as I were very much supportive, and the most important thing they said to me is do not let this interfere with what you have to do in taking car of yourself. That was the most important thing.

Life's too short to bullshit.

I've always been very shy of doing television. I've always said 'no.' Not to be disrespectful to anyone - I didn't want to say 'yes' and then let people down.

In charity, every little bit works. You can't change the world. You can't do everything. But you sure try to bring awareness and do as much as you can.