I’m proud that I’m a FULL TIME working model.

Obvious Magazine gets up close and personal with Baltimore native Liris Crosse. The curvy bombshell has broken barriers and opened doors while making an impact in fashion. She opens up about the modeling industry and gives valuable advice to models looking to get into the entertainment business.

Did you always dream of being a model & at what age did you realize that this would be your career? YES. I was in elementary school & my dad was running for Congress. The photographer came to our house to shoot the family pics for the campaign brochure. He started shooting me & said I was so photogenic & I should model. I got the modeling bug after then. I felt like I could do it since that photographer saw something in me!

How did you get started modeling? I did local malls shows in Baltimore where I grew up but then I went to a convention called Model Search America. I walked for the major agencies there & got callbacks from Michelle Pommier, Elite, Zoli & Seventeen Magazine but they all wanted me to lose weight. I was an athlete in high school and I wasn’t lean and thin. I realized how skinny [the industry] wants you be. I went back to the convention but only got a callback from a local agency. After I graduated, I decided to move to New York to pursue commercial modeling. When I visited the Model Search America offices, now a size 10, they sent me to Wilhelmina Models because the agency had women who looked like me. Wilhelmina wanted to sign me that day! I signed 2 days later! We broke barriers for years. I’m now signed to Dorothy Combs Models.

How did your family respond to you wanting to work in this industry? Were they supportive? My dad was always supportive. My mom was a bit skeptical because of the horror stories she heard not because of my talent however they both supported my dream to follow this path and they still are my biggest fans!!

The entertainment business can be very cut throat. What keeps you motivated and grounded? What keeps me motivated are my personal goals that change yearly. My love for modeling, fashion and the support from my fan base! I get so many emails, tweets and messages via social media from people who support my work. The fans say I give them inspiration. I do it for them. It’s nice to know my work makes a deeper impact whether its them loving their bodies at whatever size they are or putting a face and body in mainstream fashion so women feel represented. The men appreciate it too LOL!

Who are some models that you look up to? Naomi Campbell because she’s just the BEST & she’s still killin it! Tyra Banks because she is a complete mogul! Linda Evangelista because she’s just fierce; Cindy Crawford too! As far as plus models Michelle Griffin, Randi Graves, Kate Dillon & Angellika Morton. I also like Sophie Dahl when she modeled.

Who is your favorite designer and why? He’s relatively unknown & doesn’t design much anymore but its William Rawls! He makes fashion forward pieces for me that fit my body just perfect! I wish I could finance a line for him. He’s just that talented!!

What do you enjoy most about your job? I get to play dress up with some of the best hair, makeup, stylists & photographers while creating amazing images! I also love when I can travel for a job and get paid for it.

At this point in your career what are you most proud of? I’m proud that I’m a FULL TIME working model. Very few people can say that. A lot of models no longer model or have regular jobs and/or do this on the side. This is it for me!