My parents are my role models. All they’ve done for me, they’re just major people in my life. They’ve stood by me and got me where I am today.

When people think of me initially, they remember me as ‘Akeelah.’ Sometimes it can be frustrating to be remembered at an age that you’ve outgrown.

I don’t wish for anything. Wishing for a million dollars feels greedy. I just wish for the best for me.

Anything that controls my state of mind I never really want to do because I always want to be under control. That might be part of me being a Virgo. I never want to do...

If you focus more on the inside, you’ll feel just as great about the outside. I feel attractive when I’m doing good and helping people.

I work out. I’m getting toned, too. The Wii Fit really works your body. When I get off, I’m dying.

I think you can do anything you put your mind to. I think your mind is the worst thing you can use as a reason to not do something.

Even though I’m in the industry and I act and all this stuff, I still suffer from self-esteem issues… from the way that I look or the way that I talk… just nitpicking at myself.

I feel like you have to tell people who you are, but you don’t have to be disrespectful about it. But you also don’t have to be a shrinking violet.

Anytime you see Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye West. Anytime a young black person’s doing good, that’s motivation for everybody else. Anytime, anytime, it’s motivation. Use that fuel to push you forward. That’s what I did.

Not being happy really is my fear.

I’m not a huge musical fan. It’s like when people just jump out singing; it’s not real.

Just as many people that love me, hate me, too. I get really mean, mean, mean, mean comments on Twitter, and it just comes with the territory.

I really look up to Will Smith. He’s internationally known, and people know him from everything. I don’t know any kid who hasn’t seen and liked Fresh Prince, or you’ll like one of his movies...

Don’t depend on a guy for your happiness. You have to live your own life and do your own thing. That’s when good things come around – when you do your own thing and you’re...

As you age, you start to realize that your emotions are in your hands and not someone else’s. Once you put them in someone else’s hands, that’s when you give them the power, and you...

We need to stop separating ourselves by how dark or how light we are.

Whether it be in acting, music, or even in dancing, I only want to do things that I truly connect to, and with my music, it’s everything that I am.

My father’s a deacon, my mother’s a choir director, so I grew up in the church and singing in the choir, begging my mom if I could have a solo.

I have a few celebrity friends, but I’m really not into the whole Hollywood scene. I like to separate myself from my work. It stresses me out if I do too much of the same.

Whatever my situation is, I want to show that I’m not perfect, and perfect isn’t real. The youth need to know that, especially.

I can’t work all day and then go home and hang out with the same people. I don’t want everything to revolve around the entertainment business. Yes, that’s my career, but it’s not my life.

Comedians like to see people smile. With acting, I love giving people a feeling, an emotion. I like to give people a feeling. When they come away from my scene, I want them to think.

I don’t curl my hair. In fact, I don’t know how to.

Some of my favorite style icons are Kate Moss and Rihanna, except I’m a little bit younger. I put a little bit more teenage into it.

I’m totally normal. I love watching movies and hanging out with my friends at my house. I still go to the mall; I love to text and go on my computer. I’m totally normal –...

I can dance. I like hip hop and stuff and jazz movements, but I’m horrible in ballet. I tried.

I love clothes! I shop everywhere, but I like Urban Outfitters, Forever 21, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus. It’s a wide range. I’m from California, and I love the Pasadena Flea Market.

People that want to be in the tabloids will get into the tabloids. I just stay home and don’t go out much. My personality is not an introvert, but that’s how I am as far...

I love being in the studio. Expressing myself that way is really cool.

Someday I would really love to do a talk show. That’s something I’ve always been interested in. I like to talk, and I love to help people.

I’ve never really had a first date! Well, I had kind of a first date. I went out with this kid. We went ice skating, but it was not fun. It was so terrible that...

You have to understand that when things go wrong in your life, it doesn’t mean you need to quit. It means you need to get stronger and change your plan.

I was bullied a lot as a kid in school from kindergarten up to third grade. I know what it feels like to be left out and to want to be different – more so,...

I can’t even tell anyone how it feels when I’m acting, I don’t mean to say that I don’t have to try. But there’s something in my heart that explodes, and I feel like I...

I love music and I love acting. I always keep that in the forefront, not all the other distractions around me.

You can do anything as long as you don’t stop believing. When it is meant to be, it will be. You just have to follow your heart.

You’re going to have to speak up for yourself – and I learned that after always being, for lack of a better word, crapped on.

Corbin Bleu was my first kiss in life. I was 12, and he was, like, my first kiss for TV… It was on the lips!

I would like to do a music person’s story, a bio. I’ve wanted to do Aaliyah forever. But I don’t want it to always be like, ‘I’m singing again in a movie.’

I love competing. I love a challenge. I love going in and showing people what I can do, proving to them that I can get this part, that I can give you what you want.

I never try to be too sexy. People know when you’re not comfortable and trying to be sexy.

I think people should have fun. And don’t get so down on yourself. Enjoy life and be the best person you can be.

I didn’t come from a lot. I had a lot of love and support from my family, but as far as money and that type of thing, I didn’t really have any of that. All...

Follow your heart’s truth with no need for personal gain other than the feeling produced when doing what you truly love.

I’m a mash-up of everyone. My influences would be Michael Jackson, Brandy, Aaliyah – those types of people. So if you can imagine them – and with me taking them, and then putting my own...

I’m happy with who I am inside. I’d hate to have accolades and all that and not really be happy with who I was. So I’m really thankful for my family and for the support...

I sometimes want to do totally different roles. I don’t always want to play ‘wholesome.’

I’m a workaholic, so I ignore the signs of fatigue and just keep going and going, and then conk out when I get home. It can be pretty stressful.

I love singing and I love performing and just making things perfect.