Born on July 25th

"In the field of mindfulness & peace, be present in this breath, for it is the only moment where life is actually happening."

"Peace is not the silence of the storm, but the calm center you maintain within yourself. As a creative innovator, this is the foundational truth I have observed."

"Let go of the weight of yesterday, and receive the clear canvas of this present day."

"In the field of motivation & action, do not wait for a clear sky; the most resilient journeys begin in the midst of the storm."

"Success is not a destination of comfort, but the daily practice of stepping into the unknown. As a poet & novelist, this is the foundational truth I have observed."

"Your potential is a fire waiting to be kindled by the friction of consistent effort."

"Beauty is being comfortable and confident in your own skin."

"Looking good is a commitment to yourself and to others. Wigs, killer heels, Pilates, even fillers - whatever works for you, honey."

"Change makes you find your calling, your legacy, and God's divine plan for your life. Don't run from it."

"Intelligence is sexy. Don't play dumb, especially young girls. Don't play dumb. And let people see that you are intelligent."

"If I feel frustrated in a situation, I take a deep breath and walk away."

"I suffer from low self-esteem. I had horrible self-esteem growing up. You really have to save yourself because the critic within you will eat you up. It's not the outside world - it's your interior life, that critic within you, that you have to silence."

"Nobody has ever said to me that I was pretty, 'til I met Peter Beard."

"Eliminating the things you love is not wellness. Wellness feeds your soul and makes you feel good."

"The day you settle for less is the day you will get less."

"My looks have changed. I have laugh lines - not wrinkles."

"I did not want to get involved with a rock star. No way. It is not a sane thing to do."

"I have a certain manner of speech that is unique to me. I tried once to have my staff tweet for me, and it was a disaster! People knew right away that it wasn't me."

"I can enjoy what I'm engaged in and be fully present rather than planning my answers to questions while someone else is speaking or thinking about my next appointment while my current engagement is still in in progress."

"My father... gave me a positive connection with men because he is a gentleman."

"I am so far more secure and more grounded and more know who I am than when I was in my 20s."

"I wasn't a major in political science for nothing, so I understood the politics of beauty and the politics of race when it comes to the fashion industry."

"Granted, I've changed internally as I've gotten older - I take it easy, I know when to stop and take care of myself, I laugh much more and with my belly and soul - but this comes from the confidence and acceptance that comes with maturity."

"On my 50th birthday in 2005, my discount-wielding AARP card came in the mail. I hurled it in the trash, put on something fabulous, and had a decadent meal. Just the thought of putting it in my wallet felt like a concession."

"Life is too short not to have pasta, steak, and butter."

"The truth was I felt ugly growing up. I only really started feeling comfortable in myself when I was 40."

"We all have friends and loved ones who say 60's the new 30. No. Sixty's the new 60."

"My given name was Zahra, which is the 'flower of the desert.' I don't look anything like the flower of the desert. My name was changed by my grandfather to Iman, which means 'have faith.' And it meant to have faith that a daughter would come."

"I'll be truly happy when we're not counting the number of ethnically diverse models on a fashion runway or campaign, when having a representation of the entire human race is the norm and not an exception."

"At the end of the day, a 34B doesn't give you self-esteem."