Liza Elliott-Ramirez is the visionary founder and CEO of Expecting Models™, the pioneering and leading maternity modeling agency specializing in high-fashion maternity and postpartum bookings. Established in New York City in 2001, the agency represents professional models and actresses throughout their pregnancies and beyond, enabling them to seamlessly continue their careers into motherhood. Expecting Models also features a postpartum division for new moms, babies, and real families, making it the first and only agency of its kind.
A former fashion model herself, Liza began her career in New York City with international stints in Japan during the 1980s, working with agencies like Ad Plan and Ava. She spent extended periods abroad—up to five months at a time—and graced the pages of magazines such as Mode et Mode and InStyle.
At the height of her modeling career, Liza's own pregnancy inspired the birth of Expecting Models. As demand grew rapidly, she transitioned fully to building the agency, which has since become a trailblazer in the industry.
Liza co-produced and starred in Runway Moms, a groundbreaking reality series with Engel Entertainment that aired on Discovery Health Channel. Spanning two seasons and 40 episodes, the show documented life at the NYC agency, maternity photoshoots, and talent stories—including coverage of the historic first maternity runway show for designer Liz Lange during New York Fashion Week on September 11, 2001. Amid the unfolding national tragedy, the event proceeded, capturing a resilient moment in fashion history as Liza balanced her modeling work with launching the agency.
Today, Liza is a proud mother of two grown children who have followed in her footsteps: her son (25, 6'2″), a New York Fashion Week runway veteran, and her daughter (21), who has launched major beauty campaigns.
Beyond modeling, Liza holds a degree in Exercise Physiology from Hunter College in NYC. She created, choreographed, and starred as the lead instructor in The 29 Minute Workout Series fitness videos. Her fitness career included co-hosting live programming on Q2 (a QVC affiliate), teaching up to 16 classes per week at elite clubs like The Vertical Club—where she rose from substitute instructor to Class Fitness Director over a decade—and the original Equinox flagship location. She hosted tri-annual live events and specialized in prenatal fitness classes and studies.
An avid dancer with a passion for NYC Latin hustle as her primary hobby, Liza also enjoys salsa, mambo, hip-hop, and street dancing. A native Manhattanite born and raised in East Harlem—where much of her family still resides—she now calls Los Angeles home, with Expecting Models maintaining offices in both LA and NYC.
For more information, visit expectingmodels.com.
