Liris Crosse: The Woman Proving You Don't Have to Be a Size 2 to Do You

February 25, 2018

Liris Crosse was born in 1978 in Randallstown, Maryland, and she is a model and actress.

During the 20 years of her career as a model, Liris has been a proponent of plus size women in the modeling industry. She represents “curvy Black girl magic,” appearing in campaigns for Lane Bryant and Ashley Stewart, as well as film and TV projects, and international magazine spreads.

She’s been in “Essence,” “Honey,” “XXL,” and “The Source,” all black magazines. She’s appeared in music videos for the likes of J.Lo, Beyonce’s husband, and Brother Love…lol I’m just kidding, Diddy. And she had a role in “The Best Man.”

Known as “The Body,” Liris has helped to create a niche in the fashion industry for a demographic that is, more often than not, ignored in mainstream culture—plus size, darker skinned black women.

In 2017, for the first time in the history of the show, Project runway featured models of all sizes for contestants to clothe; Liris was one of these models. AND YA GIRL SLAYED EVERY LOOK SHE HAD TO WEAR! She also became the first plus size model to win with a designer! For someone that was constantly “encouraged” throughout her modeling career to lose weight, this is a big deal.

Ya girl is often compared to modeling icon Naomi Campbell.

Liris has become an inspiration and figure of empowerment for many women, especially those who are plus sized and/or black and looking to enter into the world of fashion and modeling.

If you haven't watched her on Project Runway, you should watch it!