I just want to live on the road. I can't understand artists that don't want to perform and, like, get on stage and do their songs for all their fans every night. If I'm not performing every night, I get totally depressed. I know that sounds really weird, but I hate sitting at home and not having a 1 A.M. performance now. It kills me.

Will Smith is one of my favorite actors, and he's also a triple threat. He successfully crossed over from music into acting.

I have more of a desire to write songs about being an independent woman than being in love, songs about getting up and moving on even if I have a broken heart.

MAC Cosmetics is incredible for lips; I always wear it.

If I was on Broadway, I would want to do anything Vaudeville or a biopic.

I like that the 'Underworld' series created a whole other world that's totally different yet familiar to our own.

People automatically assume that because you're an actor, you're a blank canvas 24/7. But I can't wear what everyone else wears. If I went to an audition, I'd wear what the character would wear, but the moment I'm done with the audition or done filming, I go back into my high-waisteds.

I feel like I can't be sick without some story being made up or some photos being sold a month later.

I've been doing acting since I was 6 years old, and I don't know how to do anything besides act and sing. Back in the day, you had to do it all - you had to sing, dance, and act. I'm from the old school where that is what I was trained to do, and that's what I am expected to do, so it's weird when people ask me to choose.

I'm somebody who listens to a lot of funk, a lot of James Brown, and I want to be somebody who contributes all that energy to the mainstream.

I used to read the criticism on blogs about other people - mostly female actresses and singers - and even when they are extremely perfect and harmless, people still go after them. So I figure, if I'm going to get negativity regardless, why do I have to worry about what somebody thinks of me?

When you're an entertainer, it's hard not to compare yourself with the next person's success. But you have to trust your own journey and your strengths and believe in yourself. I think that's the best place to start.

Live performances always feel like such a moment with all of the costumes and theatrics.

I love sparkly eyes for the holidays, especially New Year's Eve.

I'm all about high-waisted pants and skirts, pencil skirts, and sheer, long-sleeves in the summer.

I had racially prejudiced comments directed at me on different blogs. People think that just because you're in the spotlight, you're fair game. It's hard, and I don't think you're ready at any age for it. Thankfully, I have some great fans who got me through it.

When people start to think they're figuring out 'The Vampire Diaries,' it switches on you.

I just wanna be a good artist.

'Blade' was amazing; I can't imagine the character without Wesley Snipes. He just made a long, black leather trench coat look so cool.

It's important for me to just be myself - in fashion. A lot of people overlook that side of me because they're scared of it, but that's just who I am.

I hope to do multiple characters throughout my life that are separate from me. I think it's a cop-out if you play yourself in everything.

To me, success is making a positive difference through art - making art that affects the world and that changes the way people feel about themselves and the world.

'Roxbury Drive' was the street I grew up on as a little kid, and it was the street that I first listened to records on, and where I actually really first fell in love with music.

I'm really into kind of finding different masculine pieces and making them feminine. Like cool oxfords.

Tupac has always been somebody who represented a higher consciousness of what it means on both sides of the coin to be black in America. He and Prince were leaders who moved to the beat of their own drum, and I can only hope to follow in their footsteps.

If you're cast on 'The Vampire Diaries,' the likelihood of you dying is very good.

It's so important to get your skin to look even, whether it's with a MAC Cosmetics glow, a Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, or even just a solid foundation. Start off with a good prep and a good primer.

I love a cool bralette paired with a high-waisted jean, maybe with Chanel suspenders and a good platform shoe.

I love to add '90s trends mixed with modern day pieces I find along my many travels. Like these cool fun hats from Europe I have. I love to collect different ones from every country. I have them from London to Brussels.

Anyone who knows me knows what I'm about - how much I'm into empowerment, equal rights and everyone just loving themselves.

I'm very strange, I'm not going to lie.

I actually got a play from auditioning for something in 'Back Stage' magazine.

If I have an audition, I go to the audition in character. I'm in character when I walk in the room. I mean, I'm still sweet to everyone, but I'm very much the character.

I like the idea of being so passionate about everything I do and the fact that I might wake up tomorrow and say 'I want to be a chef,' and just pour myself into that.

I'm happy when I have, like, one fan, but the fact that I'm getting fans from different places and different communities, it's really amazing.

My first show was in front of 30,000 people with will.i.am, and I wasn't even that nervous.

I'd really like to work with Gwen Stefani and Cee Lo.

I think the hardest thing to do in a relationship is something for yourself.

I never want to be a spectacle, but I also feel like a look should always have a little bit of an edge.

My experience with music, I'm not going to say extremely negative, but it's definitely been a grind; it's been grimy - it hasn't been a pretty process. It's left me crying, you know, on the carpet in my tiny apartment with, like, no money. But it's been worth it, it's my passion, my dream, it's what I love to do.

I think that with 'The Vampire Diaries,' you never know what's going to happen, and I don't think the characters necessarily know, either. So you can only weigh so much, and then it might just come down to 'kill or be killed.'

I have more of a desire to write songs about being an independent woman than being in love, songs about getting up and moving on even if I have a broken heart. 'Wanna Say' is one of the few love songs I've ever done.

When you get bullied, you automatically think that you're the reason why you're getting bullied. The reality is, it's about them, not you... I'm all about blocking people. I'm all about saying, 'You know what, I don't need this in my life.'

I don't really have a main source for my style inspiration. It's really about however I feel about myself at the moment.

The hardest thing as somebody who does both is - and I'm very serious as an actor, and I consider myself very serious as a musician, engineer, music artist - is learning that it's OK to be versatile.

I like different statement jewelry, especially around the ears.

Take chances, find your voice in fashion, and find what you like, and find what makes you feel good, and do that.

Sometimes fashion designers will be like, 'This is what's hot right now, and you will be cool if you wear this,' but sometimes it's too expensive or doesn't look good on me or isn't who I am, and I don't need to just think that what you're saying is what's cool if I have my own identity.

Sometimes what I think what the news is missing is the human element, the connection - the moment that you look into a little girl's eyes or a father who has just left his family and risked everything just to try and survive.

Listen, I'm not a politician. I'm not a news reporter. I make music, and I act.