When I'm really stressed out, I go to church. I light candles and sit and pray. And I'll ask myself, What's the lesson? Why am I going through this? There's got to be a reason I'm here. What am I supposed to learn?

If you've attended the Cordon Bleu, you would know that no woman is supposed to be a chef - only men.

My secret to survival has been embracing life's challenges and not letting them dictate my frame of mind or determine my fate... Learning to stand strong in the face of challenge and adversity is the only way to get through the tough times.

The issue I have always felt most strongly about is hunger in America, in particular the children.

Yes, I love white, and I'd wear it all the time if I could. Some people think I have an issue with cleanliness, but to me it's just so pretty.

My most cherished possessions are my grandma's letters and my vintage Martha Washington cookbook.

My audience knows me, and I wear beautiful clothes as a badge of honor. They remember where I came from.