If my brother and I wanted money in our pockets, we had to get jobs - my first was at 15, at Burger King.

Once you realize there is a Higher Power, you know you're not alone, that you have a purpose on the planet. You control your destiny instead of letting the day lead you where it may. You seize it, take it and lead it.

I was taught from a young age that many people would treat me as a second-class citizen because I was African-American and because I was female.

Sometimes I pray when I really feel like I need God to help me with something, and sometimes we just have conversations. We just kick it.

I'm probably proudest of being able to lift a lot of us out of the 'hood. That's the biggest thing, that I've been able to employ a lot of people and give them opportunities.

I already enjoy cooking. I like different flavors and putting different things together and really like taking normal recipes to a higher level.

To me, I always felt like I was carrying a torch for women of any size to be themselves - it doesn't matter whether you're a size 2 or a 22, just be who you are.