Liria Mersini: What Small Planet Will She Conquer Next?

Liria Mersini is a multifaceted talent. The only child of an American opera singer and an Albanian freedom fighter, Liria was raised with a love of the stage and a passion for making a difference.

An entrepreneur by nature, Liria began her first business at the age of seven, selling greeting cards door to door in her suburban Los Angeles neighborhood. By ten she convinced the local newspaper to allow girls to be paperboys and has the distinction of being the first papergirl in her hometown. A gifted and passionate communicator, Liria has been blazing trails ever since.

She began her career in high-profile Hollywood public relations, gaining valuable media savvy by working on several groundbreaking television shows including The Cosby Show, Roseanne and A Different World.

Armed with an understanding of the power of effective media, Liria took her interest in empowering women to a new level. First as publicist, then as Executive Director, Liria brought the message that your life is worth fighting for to millions of women by placing a small, unique self-defense program into the story lines of the popular television shows Designing Women and Roseanne as well as a 20 minute segment on Oprah.

Liria says, "That Oprah show saved a woman's life a few hours after it aired in Chicago. I will always be proud and humbled to have played a part in that." When asked about her success in challenging then-current stereotypes of women as victims, Liria shares, "I believe in people but I don't believe anyone has to be a victim. Thanks to the power of television, millions more people see it my way. I call that good news!"

When not busy trying to change the world for good, Liria can be found shopping.

As a full figured woman, Liria was frustrated with limited clothing options that did not reflect her sense of style. What did she do about it? She created Cello clothing. "It's not so much that I was passionate about designing clothes. I was passionate about getting dressed in the morning and looking like me!"

Her sense of style and warm, open, presence lead her to guest on ABC's Home Show, Caryl & Marilyn: Real Friends, and HGTV's Smart Solutions. Cello regularly graced the pages and covers of BBW and MODE magazines. Liria's designs were featured in Glamour Magazine, earning her the distinction of being the first independent plus-size designer to receive mainstream fashion acceptance.

Many accolades followed. When asked about the acclaim she received in being named Glamour Magazine's Designer of the Year (niche markets), Liria confides, "I didn't set out to build a large clothing company, I simply want to dress in a way that reflects my style." The popular success and critical acclaim she received says she accomplished her goal and paved the way for 62% of American women to be able to do the same.

Continuing to empower women who do not fit the single digit fashion mold, Liria Mersini is the Curvy Counselor, a frequent guest on morning talk shows such as NBC's Today Show and a popular style editor for New York Times subsidiary, About.com.

Most recently, Liria's irrepressible nature as well as her dry wit can be seen in the internet advice column Trap Him, Feed Him, Keep Him. With partner Whitney Dineen, she is reaching women with her message of irreverent empowerment. What small planet will she conquer next? Liria Mersini is the plus-size fashion expert for about.com. Liria Mersini Liria Mersini