Cristy Thom

Cristy Thom is a work of art. Born Li-Wah Thom in Los Angeles, California, she's as well-formed as a sculpture - dark brown hair, brown eyes and a tiny waist are some of her finer and more formal qualities. "I have in incredible effect on men," she says, without a trace of guile. "I can tell by the way a man looks if I can relate to him." As a teenager, Cristy got off to a rough start - after dropping out of high school at fifteen, she left home and moved in with an older boyfriend. "I was a wild one," admits Cristy. "I wore tight jeans and a little top. As soon as I turned eighteen, I set up my camera, took some pictures and sent them in to Playboy." As Miss February 1991, she charmed readers with her candid personality and not-so-candid Centerfold photo - in the Netherlands, she was even named PMOY '92. In her original Playmate File, Cristy's number-one goal was to become an actress, but fate had other plans. Earning a degree from the Otis College of Art and Design, Cristy became a successful artist, and has shown her paintings in galleries all over the United States. "My work is a combination of contemporary realism, pop and satire," explained Cristy in a 1993 interview. Her paintings sell for as much as $18,000 apiece, so she must be doing something right. "Modeling isn't for me," she says. "I need something more challenging." Speaking of which, Cristy's ideal man is a strong, not-so-silent type - she's looking for a man who's smart and tough, who'll call her on any and all bull. "I hate being kissed up to," she says. "Sometimes I need to be put in my place. I need someone who can push back!" Like all the greatest art, we think Cristy is priceless.