Inside Rachel Roy’s Showroom: 10 Secrets Revealed

— -- She’s one of Michelle Obama’s favorite designers, one of Kim Kardashian’s best friends, and one of the most stylish women in Hollywood.

Rachel Roy is building a multi-million dollar fashion empire — and she started from the bottom.

Rachel was an intern at Rocawear, worked her way up to creative director, and then left to start her now-hugely successful line, Rachel Roy.

The single mom is a workhorse. She’s even been described as a warrior. Last year, her biggest investor dropped her label and Rachel was prepared to finance the line herself.

Roy told ABC News her work ethic comes from her father, who left India in near poverty and taught her that she could achieve anything if she worked hard.

“My dad is an immigrant from India. He was put into the Indian navy when he was 14 and he found his way here [to the United States]. So growing up I had a real strong sense of how lucky I was to be born in this country. I was reminded every day,” she said.

“I was really young, maybe 9 or 10, and I remember him saying, 'If you don’t take the opportunities that you have in this country you will be missing out,'” she explained.

“I didn’t know what an entrepreneur was at that age or how to start a business, but these are the things he reminded me, I had the opportunity to do what his family members did not,” she added.

Rachel Roy’s newest goal: teach everyday women and young girls that they can do the same.

She’s launched a campaign called “Self Rule” to empower young women to feel “smart, confident and individual.”

Every season Roy hires Third World artisans to make product for her line.

“I did a trip with Terry Lungren, who is the CEO of Macy’s, and Martha Stewart. We went to Haiti just to brainstorm ideas," Roy told ABC News.

"I didn’t want the product that I created with these particular artisans to look like the kind of product you might buy in Haiti to help out. I really wanted it to look like things that would just fit seamlessly into my line because if it did then I would get more orders,” Roy explained.

ABC’s chief business and economics correspondent Rebecca Jarvis wanted to get to know the self-made woman behind this multi-million dollar brand. So she took an inside look at her showroom in Bryant Park and did a Real Biz Rapid Fire.

Here Are 10 Secrets You Likely Don't know about Rachel Roy

1. One Fashion Item Every Women Must have in Their Closet?

A trench coat: thin enough that you can wear it as a dress.

“It slenderizes you, it gives you the same strength as putting a blazer on but mixed with femininity. So its equal part strong and sexy,” said Roy.

2. Biggest Inspiration?

“Women that work really hard, women that have to wear so many different hats throughout the day. Women that are graceful in moments of hardship,” explained Roy.

3. Favorite Thing She Has Ever Designed?

One of the outfits Michelle Obama has worn.

“I probably wanted to cry," Rachel Roy explained as she described the first time she ever saw the first lady wear one of her designs.

"I was probably having one of those days that was really tough trying to push things through,” she said.

4. Favorite Design Michelle Obama has Worn?

“One of the favorite moments of Michelle Obama wearing one of my pieces was when she was in India. Complete surprise!" she said.

"She has two pieces, a tunic that she paired with a long velvet skirt, burnout. By burnout I mean there are little pieces within the velvet that were sheer. Gorgeous, I loved that look,” said Roy.

5. Worst Fashion Trend of All Time?

Rachel Roy explained she is not a fan of trends or rules in fashion.

She said, “Having a rule is the worst when it comes to living and breathing and creating.

"I’m not going to give myself a rule because really beautiful things happen in fittings that go wrong. That’s where some of my best designs happen."

6. What Would be Worse? Walking Down the Red Carpet Without Any Makeup On or With a Huge Piece of Spinach in Your Teeth?

“Spinach in your teeth,” said Roy.

7. What Makes Rachel Roy Feel Most Beautiful?

“When I am strong and I carry myself with grace through really difficult times,” she said.

8. If Rachel Roy Could be any Animal What Would She Be?

Dolphin or unicorn. “They’re magical,” said Roy

“Something that when you see it you’re just, 'Ah that’s not going to happen often, I just got to see a dolphin or I just got to see a unicorn.' I want to be that special and have that energy that changes a room,” she added.

9. Biggest Piece of Advice?

“My mantra is design the life you wish to live," said Roy.

"And as I was designing the life I wanted to live I didn’t realize it. You stop yourself and you say, 'Wow, I’ve received this award; people are recognizing what I’m doing. First lady wore some of my garments … something is going on here.'”

10. Ultimate Mission?

Roy’s ultimate mission is to have a voice so when she speaks people listen.

“I want to be able to speak and shine a light on injustices in the world in a much bigger way, she explained. "And that would be by growing my company."