You should never look at somebody and say, 'I wish I had their life,' because you never really know what struggles they're going through.
— Keke Palmer
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.
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, to want to not be different and want to just fit in.
Real faith is when you believe in something that you can't see. When things are going really bad and you can still get up and say I believe that they're gonna get better, that there's a higher lesson to what I'm going through. It can be hard sometimes, and to turn it around like that, that's true faith.
When I was, like, 5 years old, I used to pray to have light skin because I would always hear how pretty that little light skin girl was, or I would hear I was pretty to be dark skin. It wasn't until I was 13 that I really learned to appreciate my skin color and know that I was beautiful.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Working with Ice Cube was so tight. He's cool, and I really like how he does family stuff. My guy friends couldn't believe I was chillin' with him. Dudes love Ice Cube.
I love being in the studio. Expressing myself that way is really cool.
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 can't change it. Only they can change it.
I love singing and I love performing and just making things perfect.
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 as going out to parties. I just stay in my house and hang out with friends.
Urban Outfitters - I love it. It's almost like Forever 21, but for, like, the 24- to 25-year-old girl, getting a little bit older.
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 - sounds kind of boring, right?
I think people should have fun. And don't get so down on yourself. Enjoy life and be the best person you can be.
Not being happy really is my fear.
I always try to set a positive example for my generation and promote confidence.
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 love music and I love acting. I always keep that in the forefront, not all the other distractions around me.
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 understand. When I'm acting, I feel like so in control and so centered. This is something that I solely get from acting and music. It's like love itself.
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.
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.
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.
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 can dance. I like hip hop and stuff and jazz movements, but I'm horrible in ballet. I tried.
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.
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.
There's not always going to be something out there for you, especially not a positive role, so once you get up there and start being well known, you can't just think projects will come to you. You have to start doing your own projects because if you don't, you'll miss out, and eventually your fame will be over.
Singing was my first passion. Whenever I sing, I'm always so happy.
I don't curl my hair. In fact, I don't know how to.
The music industry is something that I'm still trying to understand. With acting, I've been doing it for so long that I understand every aspect of it for the most part - there are obviously still more aspects that I need to learn - but I have a grasp on it. With music, I'm still learning. I'm still getting used to it.
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 I told him my curfew was a lot earlier than it really was.
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'm not a huge musical fan. It's like when people just jump out singing; it's not real.
We need to stop separating ourselves by how dark or how light we are.
I've been able to stay good because of my family and keeping God first. If you don't have God in your life, how are you going to navigate through this world?
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 I did was follow my dreams. If my fans take anything from me, I hope it would be that.
I definitely want to play someone who's inspired me. I would love to play Aaliyah; it would be personal because I love her so much.
Follow your heart's truth with no need for personal gain other than the feeling produced when doing what you truly love.
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.
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 work out. I'm getting toned, too. The Wii Fit really works your body. When I get off, I'm dying.
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 or his music. He's perfect, and he's done everything. That's my dream: to be internationally known.
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 something that stops me from being in control of who I am and my actions.
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 not worried about a man. It will happen in due time.
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 never try to be too sexy. People know when you're not comfortable and trying to be sexy.
