Forty-one year old Christine Hicks is an artist and homemaker. She is a size 24 motorcycle mama. This soon to be grandmother has been married for twenty-one years to Ivan and has two "beautiful" daughters, Jessica and Tasha.
Moe: Why did you become a Toil Girl?
Christine Hicks: I have been a fan of Les Toil for roughly five years and wanted to be a Toil Girl from the moment I saw his big beautiful pin-ups. I couldn't believe there was an artist that created such wonderful art for fat girls. I showed my husband all the beautiful portraits and told him if I ever had the chance I wanted to have my portrait done too. Two years later, my husband gave me my portrait for our 19th wedding anniversary.
Moe: What does the imagery in your pin-up represent?
Christine Hicks: My pin-up is a true representation of me. When I first contacted Les about doing my portrait I told him that the most important thing I had to have in my portrait was my motorcycle. I am a daily rider and my bike is a very important part of me, so she had to be in my portrait with me. I'm a big beautiful biker babe and I think my portrait says that.
Moe: What has being a Toil Girl done for you personally?
Christine Hicks: I would have to say the most important result of being a Toil Girl is it has helped me to promote size acceptance and self respect to people of all sizes, around the world. It has given me the opportunity to meet big beautiful women from all walks of life and all ages. On a purely personal level, being a Toil Girl has given me a major boost to my self confidence; seeing my self through such a wonderful artist's eyes and all the positive feedback I've gotten from so many people was and is amazing. It has also introduced me to some amazing new friends like Les Toil, about a dozen other Toil Girls, and loads of online friends from my LuvinLargeLuvsLesToil yahoo group. It has changed my life in so many ways.
Moe: What do you hope your image says to other plus size women?
Christine Hicks: I hope my portrait will inspire other big girls to put themselves out there and let the world see them for the big beautiful women they are. I hope they won't let anyone hold them back or hold them down. Stand up, show the world who you are, and be proud!
Moe: What do you hope it says to men?
Christine Hicks: I really don't have any "hopes" about what it says to men other than, "Big women are beautiful". I guess I would hope men will look at big beautiful women in art appreciatively and start seeing all the big beautiful women in their every day life and appreciating them.
Moe: Do you have any advice for someone thinking of becoming a Toil Girl?
Christine Hicks: Simple, do it!
Fun Stuff
Favourite Movie: Roadhouse.
Favourite Song: I can't pick one favorite song.
Role Model: My mother and my daughters.
Meet more Toil Girls.
