PLANNING A UK TAKEOVER: Plus-size model Liris Crosse A SIZE 18 model, dubbed the ‘Naomi Campbell of plus-size modelling’, is hoping to break into the UK fashion industry after landing a campaign for Sir Philip Green's plus-size fashion retailer, Evans. Baltimore-born Liris Crosse, who has appeared in magazines such as Essence and Glamourand starred in music videos alongside Jay Z, Jennifer Lopez and P Diddy in the US, now has her sites set on cracking the market on this side of the pond. “I would love to work more in the UK with Evans, Anna Scholz, Yours Clothing, Panache, Elomi, ASOS, Simple Be, Dorothy Perkins, Carma Koma to name a few,” she told the MailOnline. Topshop founder Green is said to have fallen in love with Crosse when she took her runway reign to British Plus Size Fashion Weekend 2014. “I want to continue to change the industry by inspiring women to follow their dreams, helping to represent a different body type other than straight size in mainstream fashion like I have done through my work and to also represent for the black plus woman who feels she doesn't see herself in mainstream fashion and entertainment,” Crosse said. The 32-year-old told the paper that she was “obsessed” with supermodel Naomi Campbell when she was growing up and “can recall studying all the major fashion magazines as a little girl”. She added: “I watched fashion TV for all the runway shows and obsessed over Naomi Campbell's runway walk. EMBRACING HER CURVES: Crosse says she wants to 'continue to change the industry' “I still idolise her poise, body and skin to this day and I practiced in my mother's heels back and forth in the kitchen. I'm honored that the plus fashion world calls me the "Naomi of Plus" because she's taught me from afar unknowingly.” In her junior year of high school, she heard about a casting call in her area for a convention called Model Search America and immediately signed up. She was lucky enough to get callbacks from Zoli Models, Elite Models NY, Michelle Pommier and Seventeen Magazine - but there was always a pressure for her to lose weight. Recalling her own journey to stardom, Crosse, who has distinctive cat-like eyes, full lips and flawless complexion, says that while her looks got her through the door of some of the top modeling agencies, her voluptuous shape got her shelved. "They all loved me but wanted me to lose weight," she said. Despite being a size 10 (US 6), Crosse received rejection after rejection. She became her own agent and utilised the urban market to achieve her dreams with the help of her agency, which ultimately led to her landing spreads in Glamour, Seventeen and Girl. Crosse then booked top videos for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Jay Z, Puff Daddy, starred on MTV and landed film roles. “I also want to get back more into my acting career because I truly believe a plus woman can be a sexy lead on a TV series... Hey Hollywood, call me,” she joked.
"Naomi Campbell of plus-size modelling is hoping to break into the UK fashion industry after landing a campaign for Sir Philip Green"s plus-size retailer, Evans . Jennifer Lopez , who has appeared in magazines such and Essence and Glamour and starred in music video"s alongside Jay Z , Jennifer Lopez and Model Search America in the US , wants to work more in the UK with Evans , Anna Scholz , Yours Clothing, Panache , Elomi , Yours Clothing, Panache , Simple Be, Dorothy Perkins , Evans and others she told the ASOS .