Rising Stars: Meet Lillie Heisser

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lillie Heisser.

Hi Lillie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m 20 years old. I’m a model, content creator, nursing student, and CNA. I was born in Fountain Valley, California and raised in Kennesaw, Georgia. As a child, it was a dream of mine to model and act. I went to acting classes and asked my mom to submit me to talent agencies. I did a couple of extra roles in movies and that was about as far as I took it. I was engulfed by school, sports, and growing up, so my dreams were put on the back burner. I gravitated toward the sciences and healthcare, and a vision of becoming a nurse began to form. July 2020, I earned my Nursing Assistant certification. The following summer, I started working at a local assisted living facility. While the manual labor and stress was real, I couldn’t help but feel like I was there with a divine purpose. I was able to connect with the residents and provide great care to them. Not everyone can be a caregiver, but I knew that I was meant to help others in my time on this Earth. Many residents began telling me “You are beautiful, you should be on the cover of a magazine! You should be in the movies!” despite my far-from-glamorous scrubs. Their kind words began to feed that forgotten dream from my childhood. I reached out to a talented photographer, Darenka Valles. This photoshoot was the first leap into my journey as a model. I felt bliss and excitement in front of the camera, despite a lack of experience. Since then, I have worked with many photographers and brands big and small. I began to post more on Instagram and find new ways to express my creativity through my vessel. 2021 was a transformative year for me. I followed my intuition, my passions, and the guidance of the most divine. I’m still navigating my individual journey, but I aspire to continue growing, learning, and helping others along the way.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It certainly has not been a smooth road, but there is a lesson in every obstacle. I failed classes, lost motivation, struggled with mental health, struggled with unhealthy relationships, and of course felt the effects of the pandemic. College in general isn’t easy, and when you want to become a nurse, you simply cannot slack in your schoolwork. It took two failed classes for me to realize what study tactics work for me. That failure also reminded me that I have to actively pursue my calling, not just skate by. So yes, study after class, take extra notes, go to study sessions, and commit. Unhealthy relationships really took a hold on me. I had a hard time setting boundaries and seeing my value. I wasn’t receiving the support that I had hoped for, but that disappointment taught me that I have to choose myself sometimes. Following my dreams is more important than suppressing myself to make others comfortable. With mental health struggles and dark times, I withdrew from everything, became inconsistent, and formed unhealthy habits. At these low points, I had to keep pushing forward. I had to have faith in a divine plan and trust that these challenges were preparing me for the beautiful things to come.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a model and content creator. I would call myself a petite model, I aspire to represent girls that look like me and aid in inclusivity. I feel like modeling is a form of creative expression. Your vessel is an amazing thing to create with. We come to this Earth with just our body, and we leave this Earth with just our body. There is so much energy and power in your physical form. Everyone has unique beauty, you just have to recognize it. I like to say that I enjoy playing dress up, I love to model and create content for fashion brands. I like to create with many different forms of media such as digital, film, iPhone, and camcorders. I think it is a blessing to be able to express yourself in many ways, especially when expressing your creativity. I’m always down to try new things and learn something new. I feel that this ability is crucial in modeling because you never know what a brand might ask you to wear, how to pose, etc. Although you could say that I’m new to the game, I am so grateful for my opportunity to model. I started modeling in June 2021, and since then the growth has been beautiful. This is only the beginning.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Atlanta. I live in Kennesaw, but pretty much every shoot is in Atlanta. I think there are so many talented creatives here and the energy is exciting and authentic. Every shoot is different, every photographer is different, and I love that. I feel that all the people I’ve met have taught me something. In general, I know when I go to the city that I’m going to eat good, have a good time, and get some good pictures. I’ve been to other cities and states, but there is no place like Atlanta. One thing I would change would have to be the traffic.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillieheisser/ 

Image Credits
Darenka Valles @darenkav New Captures Photography @new_captures_photography Brandon Abrams @brvndonv Kwofiex @kwofiex