Rasha Spindel Photo by Rosemary Ragusa

Could you give me a little bit about your background – I know you grew up in Hawaii, and how you came to Portland.

I was born and raised in beautiful Honolulu, Hawai’i. It was the best place in the world to grow up being from such a diverse family. My Mom, Fauna Hodel, wanted to raise my sister and I in a place that was a melting pot of cultures. My sister and I have different fathers. Her father is African American, and my father is a European Mutt, so our Mom raised my sister, Yvette, and I to accept everyone, and to never see color, race, sexual orientation, or even size. I went back and forth between the home with my Mom, Aunty Liliane, and sister, and the home with my father and step-mother from the time I was 5. I was raised in a Hawaiian culture on my Mom’s side, and since my step-mother is Japanese, a very Asian upbringing with my father’s side. My step-mother was offered a position with the Oregon Government my senior year of high school in 1997, so we moved to Portland. Luckily, my sister had moved here to model as well, so I had a built in support system when I arrived. My father and step-mother moved back to Hawai’i after getting homesick, so I ended up following my sister to L.A. at the end of 1998. I ended up coming back to Portland in 2003 when I signed with Q6 Model & Artist Management soon after I got engaged to my now ex-husband. I go home to the islands to visit often, though. Being from Hawai’i, it never leaves you.

What was your childhood like being plus-size?

Growing up in Hawai’i, being taller than everyone else, and curvier than everyone else, I stuck out. I have been curvy my entire life, and I always wanted to “fit in” with all of my tiny friends, but I was taught from a very young age by my Mom, and my (size 2) sister that I was beautiful no matter what. We are all beautiful in our own way, in our own bodies. I learned to accept my body, and my curves. I have been an athlete most of my life, playing softball since I was 7 years old, so I have always tried my best to be fit and healthy.

When and how did you become a plus-size model?

My sister has been a successful working model for as long as I can remember. Yvette encouraged me to become a plus-size model, and set up a meeting with her Portland agent, Justin Habel at Q6 in 2003. I took a few polaroids, and I was booked for my first runway show within a week. I started testing with photographers in Portland and Seattle, and I have been a working model ever since.

What do you think of the perception that Plus-size models (or people for that matter) are unhealthy and lazy?

I think that is insane! Just because you are plus-size that does not automatically make you unhealthy or lazy! Stereotypes like that are so hurtful! I had my doctor tell me the other day (after seeing my lab work) that I am one of the healthiest curvy people he has ever seen. It doesn’t matter that I am not skinny. I am healthy, and incredibly active!

I’ve gathered from my research that you are comfortable with your body and have accepted your biology…what lead you to this acceptance?

It honestly has a lot to do with my family, and the way that I was raised to feel beautiful no matter what. I also have a partner who thinks I am the sexiest person in the world, and she tells me so every day. I am not going to pretend that I have always felt this way, because I have my bad days where I am not comfortable with my body. There are some days I wish I could squeeze into a smaller size, but I know at the end of the day I am beautiful inside and out.

How did you get on “The Biggest Loser-Couples Edition”?

I sent in a videotape, auditioning on my own, and was approached by producers to star in their first Couples Edition. My then fiancée was the smallest man ever cast on the show (he literally only had a beer belly weighing only 240 pounds). He went on the show to support me and my dreams.

What was that experience like?

It was an amazing roller coaster ride. I lost 70 pounds in 5 months, and went from a size 18/20 down to a size 10/12. It was a whirlwind of grueling workouts, cameras, producers, talk shows (I even got married on “Inside Edition”). I loved every gut-wrenching second of it. Looking back now, though, in my heart, I knew I wasn’t supposed to marry him. I was just caught up in it all, and I was with someone who loved me with all his heart.

When did you come out and how did that come
to be?

Looking back now, I have been gay from the day I was born, but I didn’t actually admit it to myself until I was 30. After being with my husband for almost 7 years (actually married for over 3), I ended up having a crush on a girl I played softball with. It was the first time I actually admitted to myself that I wanted to “be” with a woman. Rather than act on it, I told my husband that I had a crush on someone. His first questions was, “Is it a guy or a girl?” I ended up separating from him while I went to therapy to figure it all out. I wasn’t sure if I was Bi or Gay. Up until that point, I had only been with men. I had never enjoyed being intimate with a man, and my therapist told me that I wouldn’t actually know I was gay until I slept with a woman. – Boy, was she right! During the separation (after which, my divorce quickly followed), I fell in love with the first woman I ever kissed. Up until that point, I had just thought something was wrong with me. As soon as I realized I was gay, everything made so much sense. I have never been happier with my love life. The only real downfall to coming out has been the fact that I no longer have a relationship with my father and step-mother (after coming out to them in July 2009). It broke my heart, but that is their burden to bear, not mine. I have enough love and support from the rest of my family.

Who is and how did you meet your “future” wife?

Vanna Pecoraro is my future wife, best friend, and the love of my life. I actually met her through performing in Portland. I first saw Vanna performing in Drag as Emilio in the Fall of 2008, and I was blown away by her talent and sexy stage presence. We ended up officially meeting and becoming friends in the Spring of 2009. Our friendship ended up turning into love at just the right time in both of our lives. Vanna is a Retired Police Officer, born in L.A., but raised in Argentina. She has been such an incredible sparkle in my life, and I am the luckiest woman on the planet!

Tell me about your girl group you sing in, where do you perform, who are the members etc?

I am so ridiculously proud to be a member of The B.B Dolls! We are a plus-size performance troupe (think plus-size Pussycat Dolls) who have stamped our name onto Portland’s performance art scene. We are proving that sex appeal and attitude exist regardless of size. The members are: myself, founder Danielle Ward, a.k.a. “Stellah”, and Tamra Scanlan, a.k.a. “Talulah”. We sing, dance, and perform our hearts out! Please come see us perform! We perform all over Portland and Vancouver at such venues as The Egyptian Room, Holocene, North Bank, The Bite of Oregon, Portland Pride. You can find The B.B. Dolls on Facebook, or for bookings, please contact bookings@TheBBDolls.com

How long have you been singing?

I have been singing since I was a kid, but this is the first time I have sang in a group, and I love it! Being in The B.B. Dolls has given me such a love for music again. Being surrounded by such talented ladies as Danielle and Tamra is pretty inspiring. Those girls can blow!

What does the future look like for you and your career?

On the home front, in addition to playing Softball all summer, we are planning an intimate wedding for 08/28/10. We will follow the wedding up with trips to Vancouver BC, Hawai’i and Argentina, then we are planning on starting a family. As far as my career goes, I am going to continue to model and perform. The B.B. Dolls show schedule looks pretty full over the next few months, and I am going to enjoy the ride! Having such a full and rich life has distracted me a little from writing, but I do plan on finishing my book this year. I am going to try to inspire other people to love themselves no matter what, one person at a time!

You can find The B.B. Dolls on Facebook, or for bookings, please contact bookings@TheBBDolls.com