I lost relatives to AIDS, a couple of my closest cousins. I lost friends to AIDS, high-school friends who never even made it to their 21st birthdays in the '80s. When it's that close to you, you can't really deny it, and you can't run from it. Queen Latifah More Quotes by Queen Latifah More Quotes From Queen Latifah 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. Queen Latifah opportunity giving people 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. Queen Latifah be-who-you-are size matter We ignore our feelings a lot, I realize. Many of us have to... until they really bite us in the butt. Queen Latifah bites realizing feelings I've never wanted to be put into a box, not musically. Queen Latifah boxes wanted I often go to bed in my birthday suit. But I like teddies and cute little undies that match. I like a sexy bra and panty set, or little shorts. Queen Latifah my-birthday sexy cute If you try to follow everyone else's mold, you'll probably fail at some point because God created us uniquely for a reason. Queen Latifah mold failing trying I've hosted the Soul Train awards, the American Music Awards... and I had my own talk show. So if I can't host by now, what the hell can I do? Queen Latifah host awards soul Church was a requirement, there was no choice in the matter, so was vacation bible school. Gospel has been in me since I was a kid. Queen Latifah vacation kids school I want every day to be life for the living, not just traipsing through it existing. I'm just interested in life and the world and exploring. Queen Latifah exploring want world I learned you really do have to make sure you enjoy life. Queen Latifah enjoy-life enjoy It's not always easy to do the right thing. But, doing the right thing makes you strong, it builds character. Queen Latifah strong easy character Anyone who knows me knows that I'm way more of a joker than I am a serious person. Queen Latifah serious-person know-me way There are still some places I'd love to visit - Africa, China, Brazil, India. I want to travel the world and experience other cultures and peoples. Queen Latifah brazil other-cultures india Jumping off that cliff in Jamaica.It was years ago. It was at this place called Rick's Cafe. Actually, it was two cliffs. They were pretty high, probably a good 40- 50-foot jump into the ocean. That was crazy. Queen Latifah jumping crazy ocean My house borders horse farms, and I can look out my window and see the horses and the new colts. It's really peaceful. Queen Latifah peaceful horse house My mom will make me walk the dogs or take out the trash when I go home. Queen Latifah mom dog home I don't have any regrets. If I could have talked to my 19- or 20-year-old self, I would have said, 'You're going to be fine. It ain't that serious!' Queen Latifah regret self years I wish every woman would love herself and embrace what she was given naturally. Queen Latifah embrace given wish If my brother and I wanted money in our pockets, we had to get jobs - my first was at 15, at Burger King. Queen Latifah brother kings jobs It was a very vulnerable time going from being insecure about my body and who I am to becoming comfortable with me. I had to tune out what the hell everybody else had to say about who I was. When I was able to do that, I felt free. Queen Latifah insecure who-i-am tunes
