Gabourey Sidibe: 'I Feel Like a Model'

Now that Precious has catapulted Gabourey Sidibe to fame, the former psychology major from Harlem finds herself wearing fancy dresses, attending premieres and parties, and doing photo shoots—and she loves it all. Highlights from her Harper’s Bazaar interview:

On photo shoots: “I feel like a model. It justifies everyone in my life who told me I wouldn’t be anything until I lost weight. It justifies that little girl who cried because she didn’t think she could be in front of the camera.”

On self-esteem: “People always ask me, ‘You have so much confidence. Where did that come from?’ It came from me. One day I decided that I was beautiful, and so I carried out my life as if I was a beautiful girl.”

On her newfound fame: “I heard a rumor that President Obama knew who I was. You know, because Oprah is all up in his shizz, so I think that he might be aware of me. But then again, he’s also aware of the whole world. He’s probably a little brain busy.”
On the film: “Look, I am black. I’m also overweight, but that’s not the point of the story. The point is the abuse and her bravery. This stuff happens to skinny people, to white people, to so many different people that they’ve missed the point if they say it’s about a fat girl.”
On exercise: “I hate yoga so much. Like, if yoga was a person, I’d stab them,” she says, adding, “It doesn’t make any sense to kill yourself, because who are you trying to be beautiful for? It’s a mind game, not a body game.”