Belleville’s Liisa Winkler is one of Canada’s biggest supermodels and an international star. For over twenty years, Audra has represented Liisa as her exclusive Canadian agent and worldwide as her mother agent. Audra manages Liisa’s career, appearances, and bookings including: six Fashion Magazine covers; covers for Glow, Wedding Bells, Canadian Family, and S Magazine; print campaigns for clients such as Hudson’s Bay, Holt Renfrew, Winners, Le Chateau, and Joe Fresh; and exclusive appearances in designer fashion shows for Toronto Fashion Week.
Liisa was discovered by Audra at the age of fifteen while shopping at the Quinte Mall with her mother and best friend. Although hesitant at first, Liisa was encouraged to enter Mode Elle’s local model search where she placed as a finalist, but did not win overall. The following year, Liisa completed Mode Elle’s professional modelling course and attended the prestigious Canadian Model and Talent Convention. Since then, she has taken the modelling world by storm! Liisa’s modelling career has taken her to locations such as Australia, Bali, London, Milan, Paris, South Africa, and Thailand to name just a few.
Liisa entered the fashion world alongside the likes of Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Gisele, Amber Valletta, Shalom Harlow, and Kate Moss. She has been described as “breathtakingly beautiful” by Tom Ford, Gucci’s former designer and creative director, and became the Gucci “It Girl” after landing three consecutive contracts in 1999 and 2000.
Besides the coveted Gucci campaign, Liisa has graced the runways and appeared in campaigns for other celebrated fashion icons such as Prada, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Versace, Armani, BCBG, Valentino and Michael Kors. Since then, as observed by Models Resource, she has earned the title of “Legendary Liisa” for being a “big deal Supermodel when Canadian models weren’t.”
Liisa attributes much of her success to her ability to stay focused, remain grounded, and be herself. She maintains that you must treat modelling like a business to be successful:
“The key to success is to remain grounded, professional and, most importantly, staying true to yourself. When a model starts in the industry, the going can be very tough when doors are shut . . . you must possess the confidence to take the good with the bad and continue to keep your eyes set on your goals.”
Liisa has stayed true to her roots and always remembers where she came from. She still has the same friends she had at Centennial Secondary School and the Quinte Ballet School. Liisa will forever be known in the modelling world as “the ballerina” and a model that moves like no other in front of the camera and on the runway.
Audra credits Liisa’s professionalism and personality to her strong family ties and the support of her parents, Anita and Bill Winkler. When Liisa first started modelling, she was a shy and quiet teenager. Over time, the demands of the modelling industry, combined with the continuous support of her family and mother agency, allowed Liisa to become much more confident and to grow as an individual.
Today, Liisa continues to model professionally at the national and international level. She is represented in Canada by Mode Elle, in the United States by One Model Management New York, and in Europe by Elite Model Management Paris. Audra continues to manage all aspects of Liisa’s career internationally as her mother agent.