Queen Latifah speaks before a crowd of 2,000 at the MassMutual Center. Watch video
SPRINGFIELD — While droves of people lined up to take photos with her, Queen Latifah wriggled out of her designer heels and shrunk about 5 inches to accommodate her shorter fans.
"Is that better?" she asked women posing with her for pictures before her talk at Bay Path College's 18th annual Women's Leadership Conference held at the MassMutual Center Friday.
In a very candid talk that lasted over an hour Queen Latifah discussed her regrets, her struggles being full-figured and one of the few female rappers of her time, her promise to her mother to go back to school if her career failed and much more.
"I love being in environments with women doing their own thing. It feels so much different, so much more loving and supportive and energized," she said during an exclusive interview backstage with The Republican and www.MassLive.com.
The star also discussed her upcoming show on CBS and her plans to perform at the New York City Ballet's Spring Gala this coming May.
"I'm very excited about that. I grew up listening to so many different kinds of music," she said.
Currently she is working on topics for the talk show "The Queen Latifah Show."
"I'm just gearing up for this show in the fall. I'm really looking forward to it," she said.
On stage, Queen Latifah was peppered with questions by Bay Path College President Carol Leary, who read questions sent by fans on Twitter and from students and staff who posted questions on the college's blog.
Asked about her childhood growing up in Newark, N.J., Queen Latifah, born Dana Owens, told several anecdotes about her family, from learning to read by reading The New York Times and The Star -Ledger to learning how to shoot a gun at age 5 from her father who was a police officer, and as it turns out, a member of the Black Panther Party, an African-American revolutionary socialist organization.
"There was always music in our home. My mom and my dad loved music. I remember when we were kids we would have these great parties at the house with congas and bongos and African drums and it was amazing," she said. "It wasn't until years later that I found out that they were actually Black Panther meetings. My dad being a cop he couldn't openly talk about that," she said.
Queen Latifah also expressed her regrets about not obtaining a college degree.
"I promised my mom that if after a year of putting 150 percent into my career it didn't work out I would go back to school," she said. "I never did go back."
Leary then suggested Queen Latifah enroll in the school's online degree program. Queen Latifah said she would consider it and then suggested jokingly that the school give her an honorary degree.
Leary said it was a deal and invited her to graduation in May to receive a diploma, calling the star a kind, authentic, down-to-earth person.
"It's a matter of scheduling, but if I can be here on graduation I would be honored to accept a degree from this wonderful school that empowers women," she said.
While many people waited in line to take their picture with her, Queen Latifah wanted to get her picture taken with a woman she admires and is rumored to play in an upcoming film. King Peggy, the leader of the village of Otuam, Ghana, met Queen Latifah backstage.
Queen Latifah asked King Peggy if she could take a photo with her and seemed speechless at first.
"I'm in awe," she said.
King Peggy was also a featured speaker at the event, talking before a crowded room of hundreds about how she ended up being the king of the village of 7,000.
The king was Peggielene Bartels, a secretary in D.C., when she inherited the position of royalty in 2008 upon the death of her uncle. In a humorous and energetic hour long talk, King Peggy talked about the struggles she faced being a female king and how she had to fire many of her male advisers who refused to respect her opinions and ideas.
King Peggy and Queen Latifah received standing ovations as they entered the main conference room full of 2,000 people.
Queen Latifah's interview was varied going from discussing how she ran naked through her empty house when she found out she had earned an Academy Award nomination for her role in "Chicago," to debating whether to give up treasured foods like mac-and cheese to get the ideal body like Janet Jackson.
In the end, Queen Latifah said she was comfortable enough in her own skin to celebrate who she is, as she is and told the women in the audience to strive for the same.
"Be bold, be brave enough to be your true self," she said.