Quotes About Recognition

I respect Soulja Boy.

I knew very early on that I wasn't Brad Pitt.

I was at the Emmys, and someone told me that I'd gotten more applause than Brad Pitt. I said, 'Who's he?'

All through school, people told me I looked like Marcia Brady.

I've given her bragging rights. That's something my mum's definitely big on, like any African parent. Like any parent.

What I appreciate is acknowledging to the audience that I think they have brains.

I'm not at every party; I'm not seen everywhere. That's why people still care about my brand.

Influence is the new power - if you have influence, you can create a brand.

I've become a brand.

It's hard to sell a brand without having a face to it.

I do find it a bit disconcerting when your name becomes a brand.

All I can do is try to create my own brand and have people appreciate me for that.

It's a huge achievement to have anyone wearing your clothes, and when they are in the limelight, it's the best advertisement for your brand.

It's always good to be known. You want to build your brand up, want to build your name.

I can't stand the word 'celebrity.' It's such a brash word.

I've had so much success. I had something to say, I got to say it, people heard it, and they agreed. That's every artist's dream. That's the brass ring.

Selling out isn't selling out anymore. It's getting the brass ring.

I would never say 'Demian Maia jiu-jitsu.' I created lots of things that became known, but it's all Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

I don't want to be 'de-ethnicised.' I hate it when people say, 'Oh I don't even think of you as a woman,' or, 'I don't even think of you as a black woman.' Well what do you think of me as then? A loaf of bread?

What matters the most to me is breaking into the top-10.

I don't know if it breaks my heart to say it or not, but I feel like my legacy might be more behind the scenes than it ever was in the ring.

When you come into training in the morning, knowing that people are talking about you in the same breath as players of the Busby era, it is fantastic, but I can't let it affect me.

I can't really walk down the street as Brian Badonde without someone going, 'Bwark.'

I feel proud of the fact that I did something differently in 'Brick Lane' and got so much of love, affection and respect from audiences and filmmakers there.