On the stage I kick it like the man do. And yes, I stand strong in a man's world. In this biz it's all men. So you ask how can a woman succeed in this world? Keep your head on straight. Work hard on whatever you do. Be strong. If you fall down, get up, dust off and get going on. And never lose faith; I know that if I pray, then I get it. If I give Him enough time, then He will find time for me. God is always there.

I grew up in St. Mary, Jamaica, with four brothers who made brooms for a living and I kept up with them! I was always strong. I could climb the coconut trees, go up "the house" as high as any man - maybe higher - and kick the coconuts down with my feet. Then I would go sell them.

You see, determination plays a big part. When I was in my teens, I told my friends in the parish where I grew up, "Listen, I'm leaving soon to go to Kingston and I will not be back until I am a star." And that's just what I did. I know I sing about sex a lot, about having sex for fun and insisting on the woman's own pleasure too, but I do not mean just go out and have sex -- I mean to go out and be strong. Sex is just a way to say that. To be strong. Really, though, I am with the same man ten years and it's like any other relationship. I get my respect. Everything is good with he and I, we all have our ups and downs, but you stick through them.

When I first started out I would go on my own to the clubs, asking for a go at the mic. Men would try to take me over, talkin' big, wanting to run my business for me. I learned to not mix business with pleasure. Although it's true that most of the people we are around are also in the music industry, like producers, musicians, singers and we are all friends, it's not really better to have your man do your business. Learn your own business. Some men are too controlling and once they start collecting your money for you, there's gonna be trouble. You don't need a pimp. That way you learn to take care of your own self, your business and your career and then you are not taken advantage of. And girls, don't start families in your teens. It's too hard. Most kids need two parents, like our moms and dads did in the days past. But don't wait too long either, go for it in your twenties while it's still early. Kids are beautiful, all women should be mothers. My own children God gave me. I adopted two of my brother's sons, two other nieces live with me, and I met a young girl on the streets, when she was nine and having a hard life, so I started out helping her with school, but her mother asked if I would take the child to live with me and then died three months later. So I am mother to five children, all gifts from God.

My advice to the mothers is to help your children grow up the best you can. Take them to church. Make sure they know the Bible. Check up on your kids; they need that to stay out of trouble. Pop in at school and check up with their teachers about homework and attendance.

I don't know how to choose a man. Some are punks. Some sweet guys can sweep you off your feet and it's a beautiful relationship 'til kids come. I don't know what to say about choosing a man, but I know fathers are so important. When starting out with a man, make sure he has his own assets. See if you lend him money, does he pay you back? Lots of men expect the woman to take care of them. But the guys like that, that get money from woman, lose their self respect and ambition. It gets hard for them to take up a trade. They don't work because they have their sugar mommas to take care of them.

I pray everyday. To pray is good. It doesn't have to be a long prayer, just give thanks for everything.