We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Larrissa Spears. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Larrissa below.

Larrissa , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Success, I think is relative to an individual. It can be measured on a broad spectrum. A minor accomplishment to one may be a major accomplishment to another. Too many times “You deserve it.” has. been used as a way to complement an achievement. But this statement personally puts me off. As harsh as it may sound, no one deserves anything. To be successful in anything it takes hard work and dedication. It takes being open to growth. Success doesn’t happen overnight and it isn’t just given. It takes time. you have to trust the process.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Larrissa. I am a plus model, photographer, makeup artist, and body positivity advocate from Detroit. The pandemic opened our eyes in many ways. For many of us, a new hobby or creative outlet emerged. For myself, I picked up photography. Because my work as a makeup artist wasn’t considered essential, I had to find something to occupy my time with in quarantine. I decided to pick up photography. I have always had an interest in photography, I even worked for a photographer for a few years as an assistant, where I learned a lot that I could eventually implement in my own business. As I was sharpening my photography skills, I knew I wanted to use this new venture as a way to help other people. I am a huge advocate for body positivity and self-love. I decided I wanted to specialize in boudoir and portrait photography. What better way to celebrate self-love and body positivity than intimate portraiture? While building my boudoir business, I wanted to show my clients that you don’t have to be a standard size to celebrate yourself and love your body, I started to step in front of the camera myself, more and more. This helped me grow the confidence to share with clients and help them feel powerful during their sessions with me. Since then my business has evolved even more, I work with other women to recognize their value and appreciate the body that they are in. It’s not about always being body positive. Sometimes it’s just about being body neutral. We are only human, and some days are better than others. Knowing our worth and accepting who we are, is so important.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to always help others see and recognize their true potential. Whether that is with a photo session, a modeling coaching session, or even a makeup lesson, I want to pull that newfound confidence out of everyone I have the opportunity to work with. I want to help people see that they do not have to be a certain age, size, weight, ethnic or religious background to be valued. Everyone is beautiful. Everyone offers something special. It’s always my goal to try and bring that to the surface and then celebrate it!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding thing about being an artist or creative is the freedom. It’s not just about being able to make your own schedule. It is the freedom to create from your own experiences. It’s the ability to change direction and adapt in ways that allow your creative energy to blossom. Having that freedom means that there are no limitations.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @1arrissa
• Other: TikTok- 1arrissa

Image Credits
Photos were self-portraits.