Here's a not-so-secret secret: I love Joanna Lumley. I want to adopt her as my own grandmother and have her teach me how to be that kind of lady--polite, gracious, glamorous, funny, passionately intellegent, and, of course, stunning. As a former model, current actress, doer of good, and documentarian, Joanna Lumley is quite a person.

Why do I share this? Because in addition to changing my exterior, I am also trying to improve my core--my soul or being that defines who I am. I have spent most of my life being the funny one, the one who competes with my male friends and counterparts. I was never the attractive female friend, so I became "one of the guys." I see Ms. Lumley as someone whom I can look up to--someone who doesn't compete in conversation, doesn't try to be the funniest or to mock.

Of course, I also love her sense of style, her shows and documentaries, and I admire her philanthropy. I even loved the reading of her autobiography on the BBC.

I feel as though I need to be a new person, now that I look like one. I need to be a better person or slipping into my old habits will continue to be too easy. I'm sure we all have our celebrity inspirations--who's yours?