Nicole Kristal is a professional journalist, gifted songwriter and award-winning author — but most people remember Nicole for her article, "Tutoring Rich Kids Cost Me My Dreams," which ran in Newsweek in 2005 and covered her three-year experience as an illicit academic paper writer for wealthy high school and college students in Los Angeles. She appeared on the CBS Evening News discussing her experiences, the Leslie Primeau and Dom Giordano radio shows, and continues to be asked about the experience. (US Weekly called in Dec. 2007 to inquire about whether or not Spencer Pratt of The Hills was one of her former clients).

Nicole Kristal

 

Her writing has appeared in publications such as Back Stage, Back Stage West, The Hollywood Reporter, Premiere, MSN.com, and AfterEllen.com (see Articles). In 2006 her book, The Bisexual's Guide to the Universe: Quips, Tips, and Lists for Those Who Go Both Ways, won a Lambda Literary Award. Nicole's last paying gig was working as the writers' assistant for the now defunct CBS primetime drama, The Eleventh Hour.

 

A talented musician and songwriter who has played classical piano since age eight and the acoustic guitar since age 14, Nicole has written roughly a hundred songs, seven of which appeared on her first album Radiate in 2002. She has been recording her very belated sophomore album since 2006, which is quickly turning into an endeavor of "Chinese Democracy" proportions. Nicole is currently grieving the loss of her mother and pondering her next move.