Photographed by Mario Sorrenti
On having lots of energy ever since she was a kid: "I was into sports and dancing. I ran track. I have a lot of stamina. I was built for the long run.”
“I can remember dancing and singing in front of the mirror in my bedroom. I’ve always had dreams—the dreams have just gotten bigger. Benny [Medina, manager] and I will get together and plan what we want to do for the next six months, the next year. He knows I love gypsy life—I love to go. Holidays always seem very long to me. After two weeks off, I start saying, ‘Let’s get back to work.’ And I’ve always been that way.”
On being back to her childhood home in The Bronx for the interview: “The last time I was in there was when my mom and dad called us home to tell us they were separating after 33 years of marriage. I think that’s why I was nervous about coming here today. It’s like seeing someone from the past—you’re afraid to run into them because you never know if it’s going to be ‘wow’ or very difficult. This is a combination of both.”
On her wanting to pursue a career which her mom didn't approve of: “My mom and I butted heads. I didn’t want to go to college—I wanted to try dance full-time. So she and I had a break. I started sleeping on the sofa in the dance studio. I was homeless, but I told her, ‘This is what I have to do.’ A few months later, I landed a job dancing in Europe. When I got back, I booked In Living Color. I became a Fly Girl and moved to L.A. It all happened in a year.”
On parenting her kids Max and Emme: “I think a lot about teaching my kids to work hard. I’ve learned something about kids—they don’t do what you say; they do what you do. I watched my parents. My dad worked nights, and I was aware of how much he was doing for us. My mom was a Tupperware lady and also worked at the school. I always felt that I couldn’t let them down. And I had a natural discipline from early on. I was always training for something.”
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