Acceptance Speech
NICOLE WEST

Sharing this horror with you has been the greatest form of therapy. Despite my sincere efforts to repress the memory of this gruesome experience, I will never forget the humiliation I suffered at the hands of Dr. Diabolic. Unfortunately, he is a physician that many of you have met.

As Queen, I call for an end to the painful poking and prodding, an end to the confusing information and cold metal instruments, an end to the humiliation and embarrassment! You are all delicate flowers of creation and you each deserve a gentle, competent doctor. It is up to us to put the care back in health care by demanding the best of our doctors, the best for ourselves.

I have put the Dr. Diabolic incident behind me, but I do regret not telling this man exactly how I felt about his bedside manner. Perhaps he would have thought twice before terrorizing the next young woman.

Finally, allow me to thank just two of the loyal subjects who helped me live through this and other tragedies: Tiya and K-Fresh. Scepter in one hand and speculum in the other, I say: Long Live the Queen!

-- Nicole West
Acknowledged Drama Queen
SALON | Dec. 3, 1998

Drama Queen for a Day + Nicole West + Nancy Kho + Mary Ellen Maher-Harkins