Never dull your shine for somebody else.

Black women don't have the same body image problems as white women. They are proud of their bodies.

I am learning how to delegate and how to empower people.

There have been top supermodels in the past that weren't as tall as the industry demands, like fashion icon Kate Moss.

I try to show compassion to people I come into contact with and try to put good out, as much good as I can. But that's my life; that's not my work. With my work, my job is to walk in another man's shoes.

Women have to work harder to be in the same position as a fella because they often have to balance work with running a family.

Soon after publishing a book for kids, my mailbox began to fill with letters from children all across America. Not because my novels for young readers are bestsellers - they're not by a long shot - but because today's kids love to write to authors.

I don't want to stick a sticking plaster on it, I don't want to fix children once the system's broken them, I want to give every child the opportunity before that - because the system should protect and nurture, and not damage our children.