This article is an expression of my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Leonard Nimoy, and illuminating my friendship with him.
  Leonard contacted Heather after Zoe Wiseman approached him at his exhibit for The Shekina Project (an earlier book of photographs). Zoe asked him why he only used thin models, and would he be interested in photographing women with larger bodies. He said, “Yes.” Zoe introduced him to Fat-Bottom Revue.
  In February 2005 I was accepted into the first all plus-sized touring burlesque troupe, The Fat-Bottom Revue of San Francisco. In September 2005, while touring the Southwest with blues singer Candye Kane, we stopped in Los Angeles. This photoshoot began a friendship between myself and Mr. Nimoy.
  There were two photo shoots. One in January 2005 and a second in September 2005. I was a model for the second shoot. It took place at the Hammer Gallery in Los Angeles. This large, modern art museum was closed to the public for us: Leonard, his wife Susan and two photography assistants and the models (Myself, Heather MacAllister, Jukie Sunshine, Ginger Virago, Sita and Anita Martini).
  Our first pose was Nude Descending A Staircase, modeled after Marcel Duchamp's cubist painting. Music was turned on, we began to dance and were photographed. It warmed us up, and got us feeling comfortable with what he was going after. He took some of the models (Jukie, Ginger and Sita) aside to create his version of The Three Graces image by Raphael.
  The third pose was upstairs, in front of the large mirrored sculpture by Patty Chang, titled Shangri La. He wanted us to be primitive, as if we were seeing ourselves for the first time, circling the mirrored mountain.
  When Leonard was finished getting his shots in this setting, he said, “Alright ladies, let's all go downstairs for one more pose.” I forget who it was that began the song, but the moment will always stay with me. Six naked fat women prancing around the staircase, cascading down, singing at the top of our lungs, “Whatever Leonard wants, Leonard gets!” He definitely enjoyed hearing our song and was laughing.
  Waiting for Leonard and his assistants to finish upstairs, the sun was setting and the marble floors were getting cold. Heather asked us to huddle around her, warm her by rubbing her with our hands. Leonard saw this gathering as a new shot. He practically sprinted up a large ladder. Using available light, he wrapped his arms around the rungs, peering through his camera, shouting, “Yes Ladies! Rub! Rub Rub!”
  Hearing his iconic voice, with carnality and humor, the tenderness of our helping Heather suddenly burst into bawdy laughter. Ginger began to vigorously rub Heather with her booty. I turned around to shimmy against her too. We were all just dying laughing while he took a series of photos. It made him blush.
  The joy and affection from the previous pose spilled into our dance for his last pose, reinterpreting Matisse' Dance I. Leonard chose this pose to use on t-shirts. These t-shirts were sold in galleries, prior to the book being available.
  At last, Leonard felt he had his photos and Heather spoke up and wanted us to do a kickline. Heather LOVED a good kickline, especially with her troupes. Group numbers often incorporated it for a big show. Once the shots were captured, Heather asked Leonard to join us for a final photo. Then Ginger spoke up and said, “Only if you're naked though” and someone began to chant, “Strip!”
  His wife, assistants – everyone began to chant, “Strip! Strip! Strip!” Leonard turned three shades of red, waving his hands back and forth, laughing, “no, no, no no.” We relented and let him join us. I wish I had that photograph, the image of Leonard dancing. I like to say, “I had my naked body pressed up to Leonard and our legs were flying up into the air.” He stood right between myself and Jukie.
  When Heather passed from ovarian cancer on February 13, 2007 the other models voted for me to take Heather's place as a spokesperson for the book. This resulted in me being featured on EXTRA TV with Leonard. The footage was taken at his home in Beverly Hills, July 2008.
  Leonard was interviewed in 2005 for the Style Network when the photographs premiered as  Maximum Beauty.
  Leonard and I maintained correspondence since our time together at his home. He was my friend and said I inspired him. I will miss his surprise telephone calls, asking me if I was smiling, wanting to hear me laugh, and in turn, laughing with me. He was gentle, generous and showed me so much care as a dear friend. He carried me through rough phases, watched over me, checking in on me regularly wanting to know about my life, being a cheerleader for good things too. Getting used to the lack of his presence, to know that I won't receive those telephone calls or emails again is difficult.
  Thank you Leonard for being a champion of women, of larger bodies, presenting us to the mainstream media and defending our honor. Today the love the world has for larger bodies is truly amazing and I believe it turned a page when you created your book, The Full Body Project. I am so proud to be part of this revolutionary work of art.
  "Any time there is a fat person onstage as anything besides the butt of a joke, it's political. Add physical movement, then dance, then sexuality and you have a revolutionary act." - Heather MacAllister, aka Reva Lucian.