Liis regrets that she may not be able to answer every email sent her way. If you don't receive a personal response, please check this section to see if your question has been posted here.
Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada a couple years ago...
Q: How tall are you?
A: My modelling stats and cards say 5"10 but in fact I have grown taller over the years and am really 5"10.5. I didn't really think I needed to change all my stats in my 30's! When I wear my really high heels, I am about 6'1.
Q: What is your favourite ice cream flavour?
A: Baskin Robbins' Chocolate Mousse Royale - hands down - on a sugar cone - very important.
Q: What is your favourite book?
A: I have so many! Loved The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger but love classics like The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Catcher in the Rye. I am also rediscovering many and finding new, amazing children's books as my nieces love story time.
Q: What is your favourite sport?
A: High jump - unfortunately I usually only get to see it on TV during the Olympics. As a Canadian, hockey is up there too of course!
Q: Liis, have you ever dieted?
A: Yes, when I was in grade 5. It lasted one day. I broke down and ate a piece of chocolate. How sad is it that I thought I needed to diet in grade 5 - starting it during a basketball tournament in which I was running around for several days being active and healthy anyway? More sad was that it was a group effort - there were several of us girls that thought we needed to do this. I believe in eating healthy and don't deny myself food but I choose what I eat wisely. I really crave vegetables and don't feel like myself if I am not eating healthy! But, I would much rather have a regular portion of a great dessert than a lot of a low calorie one that tastes like cardboard!
Q: As a plus model, I assume you don't need to exercise?
A: I get asked this a lot. I love exercise. I used to be very athletic throughout school through to university until piles of homework took over. I recently started jogging last year (on a treadmill). It was so hard at the beginning but I kept setting goals for myself like trying to beat a previous time by 2 seconds, trying to jog a little longer each time. It has been so mentally and physically rewarding. I attend a couple fitness classes each week. If I ever feel dragged down, I feel much better after getting to the gym and working up a sweat. Unlike many, I work out to feel better, not to lose weight. In fact, I gained a bit of weight upon taking up weight training again as I gained more muscle mass. And you know what? That is just fine with me.
Q: What do you think is the most important thing you can do to live and lead a healthy, happy life?
A: Love yourself mind, body and soul. Help others. Smile at strangers. Believe anything is possible. Stop worrying about numbers - weight, age, mortgage... Laugh often. Laugh hard. Then laugh some more. Laugh until you cry. Then keep laughing.
Q: Can you please recommend a modelling agency in my area and tell me what I need to do to become a model?
A: If I had a nickel for every time I was asked this question...My first bit of advice for you is to do a Google search as well as checking out your local Yellow Pages. A very informative link is www.modelresource.ca which lists agencies around the world with links and contact information. If you are interested in plus modelling, the forum at www.plusmodels.com is very helpful. Both sites provide tons of information for those looking into starting a modelling career. In Canada, Toronto has the most work for plus models followed by Montreal. In the USA, the major agencies are situated in New York, Miami, Chicago and LA and then to a lesser degree in Dallas, Atlanta, San Francisco and Seattle. The modelling world has grown very global so where you live doesn't always dictate where you'll work. Many of the top models travel globally from their home cities but are also represented by several agencies around the world thus enabling more clients to be exposed to them.
Some agencies have "open call" days which allow you go into the agency to meet the bookers, have them meet you and look at your pictures. Most agency websites will provide this information or tell you how you can mail in pictures for consideration instead. Most agencies accept photo submissions by mail or email and many are now only considering new models this way as they are very busy. You should bring no more than 4-5 colour photos (some agencies will specify on their websites exactly what they would like from you) of yourself with pretty but not overly dramatic make-up on that are well lit, showing off your figure clearly. Some agencies will request no make-up in the shots.
Your photos should include 2 head shots - 1 smiling, 1 not, one profile head shot, one 3/4 shot (from mid-thigh and up) and one full length. You should be wearing body conscious clothing. Do not use these pictures to show off your crazy hair and make-up abilities! Keep it simple but pretty. Write your full name and address on the back of your photos along with your bust, waist and hip measurements. Most importantly, DO NOT spend money to get professional photos done at this point. You should not expect to get these photos back unless you send a self addressed, stamped envelope. Have a friend or family member take the photos for you. Agencies want to see simple photos at this point (I swear I am not lying to you!) If an agency accepts you, it will organize shoots with photographers for you.
Q: I was told that if I pay a certain sign up fee I can join an agency/Should I go to a modelling convention?
A: I am putting these two questions together because they get the same answer: If anyone asks you for money upfront for any type of modelling agency, shoot, convention etc. and offers you the moon, run, don't walk for the nearest door! No legitimate agency will ever ask you for money upfront for anything. The larger agencies will get you work and then deduct expenses off your cheques. You will however, have to pay upfront for at least 2 "test" shoots (shoots you pay for organized by your bookers in order to get photos to put in your portfolio). Sometimes the agency will forward you the money for these but often times they won't. Your agent may be able to arrange a "creative" for you in which everyone on the shoot donates his or her time in order to walk away with pictures they all can use for their portfolios in which case you would not pay. I have worked with many of the big named agencies over the years and have never had to hand over a credit card or a cheque to a booker/the accounting department for anything. Some smaller agencies do not have the cash flow or accounting staff of the big names so it is not out of the question for them to ask you to call the printer to pay for your comp cards etc.
I think you are wasting your time and money going to a convention. Some may very well have legitimate agencies there but most don't. Save yourself the money and visit an agency in person or mail in your photos. After all my years in the business, I have not met one model - in any category - discovered at a convention. Not one. This is not to say that no lucky individual was discovered there but the chances are very slim.
Q: Do you get to keep the clothes after a shoot?
A: I wish! The odd time I will get to keep something from a shoot. Many times we are shooting samples which have not reached the selling floor yet and won't for many months. Magazines often shoot 3-4 months ahead of their publishing date - or more - so most times a piece of clothing travels around the country or the world for company meetings, colour sampling for printing and production purposes (matching dye lots, matching printing colours) and are available to the press and media for many months before it ever reaches a store. So...chances are, I am not going to get that garment!
Q: Which designers do you admire and why?
A: I truly admire the creations of Bradley Bayou, Brian Bailey and Carmen Marc Valvo because they appreciate and understand the shapes and sizes of all women and thus cut their clothing accordingly making them all feel and look beautiful.
Q: What is the hardest fashion item for you to find?
A: Bangles! I love them and they never fit. And cool shoes and boots in larger sizes, especially boots that fit a woman's calves.