A little help and encouragement from her friends (and some bottled Dutch courage) Nic entered, then won, the Ms Chch Pride contest! Who are you and what's your background? Nic Tomlinson, I'm a proud Cantabrian. My most recent professional background was on cruise ships, and I'm the new Ms Pride Christchurch 2006! Why did you decide to enter Ms Pride Christchurch 2006? A little help and encouragement from my friends and some bottled Dutch courage! How did you feel when you won? Wicked actually – my competition was ‘Stella' and I was a ridiculous bunch of nerves when it started! But I had loads of people join us at CRUZ for the show – so all their cheering and support wasn't for nothing! What characterises the New Zealand LGBT community for you? CRUZ! What is the worst thing for you about being lesbian? The WORST thing??? LOL, can't think of a one! What is the best thing? No dangly bits! Relationship status? I had a long-term relationship with a lovely lady… who remains one of my closest friends today. Then I met someone fab again, but also not to be… so could be a long cold winter! Favourite food and drink? Would really be easier to list the least fav's! I LOVE FOOD! Worst habit? Smoking – but I do so enjoy it. Most noble feature? Loyalty. Favourite TV programme? Don't really watch a lot of TV actually – would rather be out and about y'know? But the first programme that springs to mind has gotta be ‘The L Word'. Favourite movie? Ummm… truckloads of them. But being an AVID Angelina fan I would have to say, anything at all that she's appearing in! Qualities you most appreciate in a LGBT person? Open mindedness. What are you reading at the moment? Nothing just now, but just finished The Da Vinci Code – if you haven't read it yet, you gotta. Who in the world would you most like to have a coffee and a chat with? I have an awesome group of friends and family here in Christchurch, so with the exception of a few friends overseas, there's no one really. Wait now, George W. Bush – just to tell him what a twat he is! Role models? No one remotely famous springs to mind as someone I would mould myself on – but the people that do would have to be my mamma, and my ex – both fabulous women. What is the most pressing issue currently facing the NZ LGBT population? Okay, this is going to make me sound completely terrible, but I just don't do politics – straight, gay or otherwise. I did try to investigate for some inside info and the most prolific answer I got is that there ain't enough lesbians! Always the challenge of the straighty 180's I guess. You can never go past the AIDS issue; I think that those who take responsibility for AIDS awareness and protection do a great job. The fault lies in individual irresponsibility. Everybody has known about this terrible disease for such a long time, and still the message is too often ignored. If you could have one wish granted what would it be? A smaller ass! Wait now… ya gotta hope for eventual world peace, although it just might be somewhat in vain. And one day to never biologically need a man to make babies! GayNZ.com - 3rd June 2006