LONDON:

Singer-actress Vanessa Williams believes the racism she endured as a child spurred her to success.

The 44-year old Williams grew up in a white middle-class suburb and was taunted because of her skin colour, reports contactmusic.com.

But instead of allowing herself to be overwhelmed by the negativity she used it to succeed.

Williams, who stars in the hit TV show Ugly Betty, says, “I remember being called n**ger on the bus in the third grade, and asking my mom what it meant. She said, ‘You know what, you’re going to have to do better than everyone else, just to be considered equal — because of your skin colour.’ That was my mantra.”