So many of you have heard this story by this time, but I figure I should just get it out there, and write it down before I forget.

In December of 2004 I was dancing with Big Burlesque, a full-figured burlesque company. Heather, the company founder, offered the dancers a chance to be part of a photo shoot that recreate some famous nude supermodel images of the 1990s. Heather told us the photographer’s name was Leonard Nimoy, and all I could think about was how much it would have to suck having that name. I found out later that I wasn’t the only one of the models that missed that it was THAT Leonard Nimoy. I wasn’t that nervous about doing the shoot, my parents are both artists, and I wasn’t raised to think that there was anything shameful about the human body. And of course this was art, not porn. And the likely hood that anyone I knew would see these pictures was so remote, why worry?

The shoot was at the Haines Gallery in San Francisco. We used a small storage room to change and get made up. The photographer arrived while we were changing–a tall, thin man. I hadn’t seen any recent pictures of Nimoy in years. And I remember shaking his hand and thinking, wow, he kinda looks like the other Nimoy, too. And then it clicked. Leonard left the room and all of us looked at Heather and said “Is he THE Leonard Nimoy?” and Heather said “Of course, what did you think?” And we all freaked, for a minute.

The crew was very small, just Leonard, his very sweet wife, Susan, and photo assistant. We were shooting around extremely expensive art, and in a room that had a fragile wall of mud that we needed to tread carefully around. Leonard did pose with us for a picture, while we were still clothed.

Afterwards, life went on. In March of 2005, Nimoy started to get press for the exhibitions of the photos, called Maximum Beauty. It stirred interested, mainly because it was him, and also because naked fat people are taboo! Some people did see it at that point, but not most. I didn’t really tell a lot of people because, well, I was naked in them. And while I completely believe in the message, having my male friends in particular see it kinda weirded me out. (So guys, please don’t feel like you have to look the photo or book up, and if you do, don’t feel you need to tell me about it.)

In 2007, the book Full Body Project came out. It was compiled from 3 photo shoots, and yes, I am one of the cover girls! The press was huge, more people recognized me, people who barely knew me! I got a call from a friend(thanks Bryn!) on Valentine’s Day 2008 telling me that I am naked on the Colbert Show. Freaked me out, but great interview with Nimoy.

So there it is, I have come clean, and I am proud to part of that book. I don’t want anyone to feel like they need to seek out the book (or buy it) to support me–unless it’s your thing. I will say that it has meant a lot to many people, and has touched some people profoundly, and I am very glad for that.

Live long and prosper!