Leslie Segar—better known as Big Lez—is a woman with arms that would give any pro wrestler a run for his money, a backside that puts Jennifer Lopez's to shame and sexy lips that Angelina Jolie can only dream of. Here she tells us about making it big in entertainment. by Ihsan Muhammad

dancer, TV host, gymnast, and urban personality, she's rocked every hip-hop video worth mentioning, and danced through the opening credits of the sitcom "Living Single."

Like most of us, Big Lez has struggled with body idiosyncrasies. Her "authentic, eccentric, black woman's nose" was the subject of many a high school joke. Her broad shoulders, thick thighs, and ample frame, highly unique for a female gymnast and dancer, earned her the nickname Big Lez, but kept her from receiving principal dance roles. She's been dismissed by music video casting directors who praised her dance ability, but rejected her because her looks didn't fit the light-skinned, thin, b-girl image they wanted to portray.

So, Big Lez danced her way to the top. She had to make sure that she was undeniably the strongest, most athletic, flexible, and versatile dancer at every audition. When she didn't get a gig, she had to throw her shoulders back, hold her head high, and move on.

"I'm a woman who loves being a woman and who's not afraid of everything God has blessed me with," Big Lez declares. But she just as easily admits that she has not always been so confident: "During my college days I wouldn't walk on the beach without a T-shirt on."

We sat down with Big Lez for an informal chat about body image, beauty, health, and more. Later, we joined her on a New York City shopping spree to expose the shops that do not cater to women of all sizes and to give props to those that do. Big Lez does not hold her tongue: when gear didn't fit, she didn't bullshit with the store clerks or managers.

Big Lez challenges body-conscious young women to "know what you want to do with your own body and be comfortable with it, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally." To parents who see unhealthy eating patterns developing with their children, or harass kids about their weight, she says, "Look at yourself first, because the problem may begin with you."

To those of us who look to Hollywood starlets as the ideal image of beauty and perfection, Lez advises, "Don't let the Pamela Andersons and the Heather Locklears of the world have you fooled. They may be tiny and making money, but they're probably miserable." And she would know, because she's always moving and shaking right beside them.