Queen Latifah 'proud to be role model'

Queen Latifah has revealed that she is proud to be a role model for young girls.

The rapper-actress said that hearing from young fans helped her to accept her figure.

Female First quotes her as saying: "I was in Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. I was at the airport and the limo driver told me about his 12-year-old daughter, who wanted to be a singer and had a beautiful voice. However, her classmates were teasing her about her body and telling her she was never going to make it.

"She saw me perform on TV and I inspired her to sing again. She saw me and my appearance and my success and the great job I did."

She concluded: "This was a 12-year-old kid whose dream had been halted by negative comments, but she saw me deliver a knock-out performance and it made her believe she could become successful too."