I think what I admire most about her is that she has managed to be successful in the music world without compromising herself to a record label (she started her own). She's incredibly open about her sexual preferences, and while I don't consider that a big deal, I know that she's a real source of strength for people who deal with their own 'coming out' drawbacks.

Always a delight to watch, she gives me hope for people. The first time I went to Balls, they were celebrating her birthday. Not only was she happy to be getting older (a rare thing for women), she had cultivated such a love for life in herself and those close to her that (even though I didn't know her) I was happy to be part of the celebration. It isn't often that you run into a person in your own life who inspires you. I'd have to say that she does that for me (and probably a lot of others) through what I've seen at Balls and what I've heard from my friends who go to her (specifically sober environment) high school.