Valerie Simpson Quotes

I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence but it comes from within. It is there all the time.

Whether or not cutting my hair was the right decision, it empowered me.

I thought I was weak and couldn't be on my own. But actually, I can do it; I just need to be a bit braver.

I used to think I needed a man to define myself. Not any more.

The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage.

It was the first time I traveled alone, but I was not scared.

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.

It's very liberating to cut your hair.

By the second time I sang by myself in school, I just realized that I was more in control of my environment than I had ever been before.

I would tell 17-year-olds to be proud of who you are. Don't try to change yourself for others. Focus on school and your future. Boys and friends will come and go, just focus on you and your future.

I think I'm learning to be bolder in my career choices and be more confident in my personal life. I haven't always felt very secure as an individual, but now I feel I certain confidence and sense of self that gets me through the day a lot better than before.

There are no makeovers in my books. The ugly duckling does not become a beautiful swan. She becomes a confident duck able to take charge of her own life and problems.

In the end, my pursuit of the elusive New York State driver's license became about much more than a divorced woman's learning to drive for the first time.

I've got to where I've always wanted to be. I just feel more myself, and I've learned not to care what other people think. It's happened slowly, very slowly. But I did it.

Get more confidence by doing things that excite and frighten you.

The song 'Wolf Eyes,' I wrote because I felt like I was such a kitten. I want to be more of a wolf. I want to be stronger and more independent. I sort of wrote the song for that.

Putting yourself out there is hard, but it's so worth it. I don't think anyone who has ever spoken out, or stood up or had a brave moment, has regretted it. It's empowering and confidence-building and inspiring. Not only to other people, but to yourself.

'DWTS' really made me feel confident, and has given me a lot of just self-worth within myself and realizing that I don't need a man to be successful and that I could do a lot on my own, and have my own voice and have my own opinion.

You have to empower yourself.

I was able to start building my confidence and know that I don't need anybody to be happy.

The staging for 'Monsters' is all about me getting free. In the beginning I'm like tied, in a dark place... until I am scared no more, and I'm taking the lead of my life, I'm being the queen of my life, I'm ruling the world! In the end I'm taking a risk, but I'm taking the leap of faith.

When I started wrestling and then turned into the Evil Queen, I created this character who I needed in my personal life. This woman who is strong, intelligent, confident, empowering. That's what I needed in my personal life.

I don't care what people think anymore. I don't think I've got anything to prove.

I was terrified to go solo. It's lonely doing it by myself. But I wanted to challenge myself.

I'm gonna be the best version of me. If there's something I don't know, I'm not afraid to ask.