Get to know model/host Christina Torres A.KA Cristy14u2c

Tell us about yourself:

Hey! I’m Cristy also known as the logical half and Vice President of the NHS Radio team, Cristy14u2c. I am a Radio Host, Media Personality, Published Model, Fitness and Health Blogger, Humanitarian and Body Positivity Advocate. I’ve been doing Radio for well over 4 years now, but I’ve always made funny videos and have been a voice for realistic imagery and representation of all walks of life in media.

When did you decide to make this your career?

Having started out in front of a camera over 20+ years ago for commercials and modeling as a kid, I’ve always loved to be in front of the camera, I loved to talk to people, and entertain. As I got older I had dealt with bouts of depression, and anxiety, to which I found my only remedy was to make people laugh and relate to my story, in turn expressing my fears and my pain in a less self-destructive way. From then on I knew I wanted to be in the entertainment industry.

What or whom inspired you to choose the beauty field?

I’ve always had a love hate relationship with beauty. I love the experience of getting dolled up and having someone putting on a whole different look. The process of seeing someone’s vision come to life and being the canvas is so positive and uplifting. But there are good and bad sides to the industry, the bad side gave me the motivation to push for change. Mostly because I always saw a lack of representation for natural women, and everyday body types bullying and even exclusion. Most media models were at the time, only skinny, fully made up and heavily edited. I wanted to provide a platform for women to see themselves in real world settings and celebrated for their natural beauty, while allowing them to view themselves as the beautiful canvases they are as well!

Tell us about your education:

In grades k-12 I really focused on art, I was in gifted art classes until middle school where I found my second love, dance. After graduating high school, I followed my dads ambitions for me to study medicine but I hated every second of it! (Some people can see blood and not even flinch, not only did I flinched I fainted) After I quit medical school I perused an education in graphic arts to apply my creativity because I really missed being in art classes and freely expressing myself. It was during this college experience that I began to study poetry and expression of words, I loved it!

What are your goals as a model/host in the industry?

My Ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between realistic expectations of beauty, and the beautiful real women who buy not only the products, but the services, of some of the most talented MUA’s and hairstylist’s. To provide a platform to begin the conversation that ALL women are beautiful, BBW’s skinny, y’all, short, redhead and freckles, to ebony and Afros, we are ALL beautiful. I want to use my voice my experience and myself as example that you don’t have to be a size XYZ or have a college degree, or be a perfect role model, you can be short, chubby and funny, to make someone pay attention and chose to accept themself and be happy in life.

How would you rate the quality of your work on a scale of 1 to 10?

So far.... I’m only at an 8, but a solid 8, like an 8 ball, the last ball you have to hit to win the game, when the pressure is at its highest. I’m still working at my shot, I’m working on my aim and growing in my aspirations everyday. I am grateful for the opportunities that have presented themselves as well as the ones I have sought out to bring my brand to the next level. There is so much more to me than I have shown so far and I can’t wait to see what level 9 has to bring. How do you see yourself progress in this field? Moving. Everyday a new project a new idea, a new shoot, a new face. Creating content is okay for some, to continue to put out the same video rehashed as a new topic isn’t really my forte. I like to create new content every time, a new subject every time, new locations, different people, different views. Thats progress to me. If you’re constantly only exposed to your comfort zone are you ever really growing? What motivates you to keep going? This is an easy answer. My son. Had you asked me a year ago my answer would be different. I would probably have said something corny... undoubtedly corny. But my answer is my son, he has truly changed my views on life. I think of the woman he will see growing up, the type of woman he will watch handle situations, and the type of mother I will be to him. But I also want him to see his mother as a go getter, someone who uplifts other people, who is genuine and kind, a woman of great strength and diligence. I want to be that woman he says “My mom is amazing, she never gave up” For him I will strive to get to that next level, I will break barriers and go outside my comfort Zone and continue to improve my craft and skills. It’s all for him.