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by
Kimberley Carr and Trudy Handel |
This is the story of one woman's dramatic climb from a call girl and madam to a
celebrated gospel singer.
Nicole didn't have much of a chance in life. Her childhood was haunted by her
mother's suicide attempts and her father's alcoholism and continuous abuse.
At the age of fifteen, she ran away from home. By eighteen she'd married and had
a baby, only to be divorced a year later. Taking her infant daughter, Nicole
started out to make a new life for herself and her daughter. She was approached
by a man who offered her a bookkeeping job - but the "business" was a massage
parlour.
Nicole soon became a call girl herself. At age twenty, she opened eight escort
agencies and later a night-club, where she began to develop her own singing
talents. Her prospering business attracted corruption from all directions,
including well-known politicians, entertainers and organized crime.
Three times Nicole came close to death - twice at the hands of jealous rivals,
and once on a call gone wrong - where she found herself dangling from a
thirty-third floor balcony. Desperately trying to control a life out of control,
Nicole became more and more unhappy. The final catalyst for change came when a
childhood friend and employee was found brutally murdered.
Nicole didn't even lock the doors before she walked away, leaving her
self-created empire behind. Trying to build a career as a professional singer in
a new city, she resumed her relationship with her mother and daughter, as Nicole
tried desperately to turn her life around.
Suddenly one day, Nicole collapsed in agony. She was rushed to hospital for
surgery, only to discover that she had a twenty two and a half pound ovarian
tumor, and it was malignant. Due to a series of radical treatments, Nicole lost
her hair, her looks and self esteem - all of the things she'd so desperately
depended upon. Eventually she was told to make her funeral arrangements. As her
health deteriorated, she was offered an experimental treatment which had never
before been used - her only chance.
She agreed to undergo the radical therapy which involved one year of
chemotherapy in four days. Months in isolation followed as every day presented a
new battle for her life. Miraculously she made a full recovery. The treatment
used to cure Nicole was later abandoned, as she was the only person that
survived.
Nicole began a new career in the film industry and quickly rose through the
ranks. She became involved in a local church and turned her vocal talents to
gospel singing. Nicole's music, and her honest appraisal of her life has been an
inspiration to thousands through international talk shows, tours and speaking
engagements.
She has gone on to record three albums, two music videos and a documentary. All
of these have been used to reach others in similar lifestyles.
Nominated for Country Gospel Artist of the year, Nicole has completed a North
American tour, and has established a youth centre where teens can safely meet
without drugs or violence. She’s broken the cycle of abuse, and has a loving
husband. She's come a long way - going from a life of drugs, degradation,
humiliation and abuse to one of dedication and fulfillment.
The story of her battle for life is inspirational.
Contact Information
Trudy Handel
Winterhawk Productions Inc.
- Telephone
- 604 533-3220
- Postal address
- 23395 0 Avenue, Langley, B.C. Canada V2Z 2X3
- Electronic mail
- General Information:
thandel@shaw.ca
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