Thirty year old Krystel Marshall works as an office manager for a real estate appraisal firm by day and a piano and voice instructor by night. Krys, as most people call her, is a size 18. She shares her home with her husband and their two weiner dogs Gabby and Herbie (as well as a whole bunch of nieces and nephews). Her Les Toil pin-up is full of sultry reds to high light her sultry curves.
Moe: Why did you become a Toil Girl?
Krystel Marshall: One day whilst dusting my collection of angels I had an epiphany. People would stop purchasing naked babies with wings (which are NOT actual angels, by the way) for my Birthday, Christmas and "Just Because" if I stopped collecting angels! I have so many, anyway and I was starting to have trouble finding unusual images, so I decided to collect fat girls. My first stop, of course, was the adorable Hilda. I was perusing the internet for information and items for sale when I came across the Toil Girl website. I was hooked! I looked at it every day and every day I argued with myself.
"It would be the ultimate vanity to spend that much money on a portrait of yourself. Yes, but I deserve it!"
"What would everyone else think? When have I ever cared about that before?"
"How can you even fathom it?"
"Someone's gotta think I'm sexy, it may as well be me!"
Back and forth I went, until I finally justified doing it. I would have Les do up "something" and have it framed for my husband to be presented on our anniversary. Ok, my motives were two-fold. I was hoping to get some appreciation of my femininity as well.
Moe: What does the imagery in your pin-up represent?
Krystel Marshall: Boldness. Plain and simple. I am very extroverted in every aspect of my life - including the private side. I actually have had women tell me they admire that about me and I have to laugh and tell them "I'm only that way because I make myself be that way". They still don't get it. I'm demanding and I want what I want when I want it and will usually go to great lengths to get it, if I want it bad enough. That is me - and I believe Mr. Toil caught that to a "T". Did I mention that it's actually reminiscent of a scene from my past? But that was all Les's E.S.P.
Moe: What has being a Toil Girl done for you personally?
Krystel Marshall: Oh my goodness, well, the obvious is ego... or self confidence. Whichever one you want to call it. When I'm down on myself or just feeling not pretty, I can look at it and think that someone several states away looked at pictures and talked on the phone with me a few times and saw that girl. If someone else can see her, then she must still be here.
Moe: What do you hope your image says to other plus size women?
Krystel Marshall: Like I said earlier, I'm bold because I make myself be bold. I'm fat. That sentence in and of itself is not a negative sentence - at least, it doesn't have to be. Fat is an adjective, just like my blue eyes and pale skin. None of those things are bad, they just are. You are gorgeous, you are fabulous, and perception is reality. Let people perceive you as you want to be perceived, not as you perceive yourself.
Moe: What do you hope it says to men?
Krystel Marshall: If I have guts enough to have my... ahem... large thighs plastered on the Internet, then you can at least have the nerve to stand up and tell the world you like fat women. And, if you're one of those people who don't appreciate women of my size, it's ok. But DO NOT underestimate my appeal or sensuality.
Moe: Do you have any advice for someone thinking of becoming a Toil Girl?
Krystel Marshall: Be prepared for an image of yourself that you may have never fathomed. Given his artistic license, Mr. Toil simply gleans your field and creates an unbelievable harvest. Be patient, be picky (if you don't like it, tell him) and be yourself. My Toil portrait is me. I really wear bangle bracelets and hoops nearly every day. I love red and simplicity. My husband is a slob and really does leave his shoes out in the middle of the floor like that!
Fun Stuff
Favourite Movie: Gone with the Wind.
Favourite Song: Baby Mine (Dumbo).
Role Model: My Aunt Besa.
Meet more Toil Girls.
