Li-Wah Thom, better known as Cristy Thom, was born on September 8, 1971, in Los Angeles, California, and was raised by her mother after her parents' divorce when she was just four years old. At the tender age of fifteen, Cristy Thom made the bold decision to drop out of high school and move in with her then-boyfriend, who owned an auto-parts business in the San Fernando Valley.
It was during this time that Cristy Thom began to pursue a career in the adult entertainment industry, sending photos of herself to Playboy and being chosen as the Playmate of the Month in the February 1991 issue of the iconic men's magazine. Her success in Playboy led to her being named the 1992 Playmate of the Year in the Dutch edition of the magazine.
In addition to her work in Playboy, Cristy Thom appeared in a handful of Playboy videos and posed for numerous newsstand special editions. She also ventured into the world of film, landing a sizable role as the sexy Hillary in the lowbrow comedy "Meatballs 4" and a small role in "Best of the Best 2."
However, it was in 1993 that Cristy Thom decided to take a drastic career change and pursue her passion for art. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California, in 2001. Since then, Cristy Thom has been living and working as a painter and photographer in Santa Monica, California, with her artwork being displayed in galleries across the country.
Throughout her career, Cristy Thom has showcased her versatility, moving seamlessly from the world of adult entertainment to the world of fine art.