Alicia Machado

Every day I am trying to improve my life.

Well, I think it's because I'm an only daughter. I have four brothers, a bunch of guy cousins, and so it's like I was raised amongst men. So I've always gotten along really well with men.

Beauty is only temporary, but your mind lasts you a lifetime.

My first career ambitions involved turning into a boy; I intended to be either a railway guard or a knight errant.

Fame is like the dessert that comes with your achievements - it's not an achievement in itself, but sometimes it can overpower the work.

I believe in the power of poetry, which gives me reasons to look ahead and identify a glint of light.