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I never was in the Nation of Islam... I mean, what I call myself is a natural Muslim, 'cause it's just me and God.

I was never a practicing Muslim. But I do consider myself a Muslim.

I was born Muslim, but for a large part of my life, I wasn't necessarily raised Muslim. My father always kept everything around us, from Western philosophy to Eastern philosophy.

I have Muslim members of my family. I have lived in Muslim countries.

I have great respect for the religion. I know a lot of people that are Muslim and are phenomenal people.

It's fun being in Islamic countries, to know there's only one religion. There's order. You wear a burqa. There's no choice. People are happy with that.

All my friends were non-Muslims. I actually knew very little about Islam - like, very little.

I grew up as a kind of nondenominational Christian. I have two uncles who are Baptist ministers. I went to a Samoan church when I was younger. I went to a Catholic school, so I was actually able to experience a lot of different religions. Mormonism, as well. My father in-law, who I'm very close with, is a Muslim.

I am certainly not a good Muslim. But I am able now to say that I am Muslim; in fact it is a source of happiness to say that I am now inside, and a part of the community whose values have always been closest to my heart.

We are not a land of Islam. In our country, we don't wear djellaba clothing, we don't wear a veil, and we don't impose cathedral-sized mosques.