FLORIDA MAGAZINE 03.01.2016 20
COVER MODEL
Liz DeBetta
Hometown: Staten Island, NY
Age: 38
Hair: Brown (with blonde highlights)
Eyes: Green
Size: 0/2
Shoe: 7 ½
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 115 lbs
Measurements: 33-27-37
Occupation: Literacy Manager at a non-profit/Pageant Coach/Actress
Facebook : lizdebettafanpage
IG: @lizdebetta
How did you get involved with modeling and who inspired you in becoming a model?
I actually began modeling by accident when a friend had a photo shoot weekend for fun. I almost didn’t make it due to a flat tire and I remember being really bummed about it because it was something I really needed and wanted to do for myself. I had no intention of becoming a model at that point, it was simply a way for me to spend some “girl time” with friends… getting glammed up and feeling beautiful and sexy again. I had recently gotten out of an abusive marriage and it was a way for me to reclaim some parts of myself that I had lost. I hadn’t felt good about myself in a long time and getting in front of the camera, I felt, was a way to start expressing myself and gain some confidence back. It was that weekend that I met Rick Trottier and the rest is kind of history! We started working together more regularly and have been an inspiration to each other over the years. I have been able to be creative in a way that I never expected through modeling. I can be any version of myself I choose at a shoot and love that kind of freedom to explore that comes with it.
How do you manage to maintain such an incredibly beautiful figure?
I have been active since I was young and have maintained that as an adult. I used to dance and always liked adding some weight training. In 2012 I started running and decided to run the Philadelphia Marathon that year with some of my sorority sisters… it was a goal that I never honestly thought I’d have until I actually did it. So, now, running is one of the activities I love to do to stay fit and help decompress, as long as it’s not on a treadmill! I found yoga as a compliment to running, a way of being connected to my mind and body and breath while building strength, flexibility, and focus. I also commute into Manhattan every day, so I always take the subway stairs. Partly, I think I am just blessed with some really great genetics, and I eat a very healthy, balanced diet. I was pretty sick with asthma and allergies as a child, so I grew up eating very specific, healthy foods that were free of any kind of chemicals or additives that might have landed me in the hospital. As a result I have developed really healthy eating habits and believe in “everything in moderation”. I live a pretty balanced life in terms of food and fitness. I have never been one to worry too much about calories, etc. I listen to my body and eat what I am in the mood for, which is usually not too much dessert. I’ve never had a big sweet tooth. It’s all about balance… staying fit and healthy is a combination of being active, eating well, and taking care of your mind and soul.