Getting to know Léhcar…

“Hi, my name is Rachel aka Léhcar.

I’m a body positive model raised in Houston, Texas, now residing in south San Antonio. I began to develop a passion for modeling my last year of high school. Then fast forward to motherhood, I thought my dream of making the cover of a magazine was over! I really thought I was less attractive because of how my body changed.

Confidence was low due to the lack of ‘normal’ bodies I saw—like mine—in magazines and on the television. I am here to change that! A few years went by until one day I saw someone like myself modeling, and it gave me hope to try modeling again.

So here I am, a couple years in and I am bringing confident, sexy, fashionable momma vibes to the world! All this to say, just because something gets you down doesn't mean you have to stay down. You may feel like you are at your lowest but the highest moments are around the corner. You just have to get up and walk there. I did and I have no regrets!”

The Interview

Rachel Léhcar Ross is one of the most upbeat genuine people I’ve had the privilege to meet during my journey with PEPPER Magazine thus far. She’s been a pure delight to work with as a model with a personality and carefree spirit that also makes her a great candidate for acting and the film industry. This easy-breezy Texas mama has always carried herself with a sense of determination and purpose, even through some of her own struggles with the insecurities of a changing body—a journey she now sees as a blessing and something to honor.

Her story is one that runs parallel for many of us who have grappled with fluctuating weight or the natural changes within our bodies due to motherhood. We sat down with Léhcar to talk about her own take on this, what she’s learned along the way and how she balances creative entrepreneurship while being a mom and modeling on the side. l started marketing at a hair salon and the boss showed me that I too can have my own business. That’s when I founded a beading business. Waisted by Léhcar started as a way to enhance my stomach with something positive since I thought my stretch marks were holding me back. I made my first beaded waist band with different colors and patterns and beads. It added to my style and beading keeps my mind busy.

“I was 30 years old when I became interested in modeling again after putting it on pause from high school when I was 17. I began to like modeling when I watched a show called America's Next Top Model back then. It was exciting and I saw myself in TV, doing the things they were doing. I said to myself, I could do that. The lack of confidence and money held me back however, so l decided to go to school.

While in school, I went as undecided because I really wanted to model—just didn't have the resources. I later left school to work and start a family instead. Which takes up a lot of your time and I figured, now with my new role as a mom, I would just focus on that while living and building a life with my boyfriend.

Fast forward to another kid later and marriage, it was not on my agenda anymore to become a model. Until one day I felt like l'm not happy doing what I am doing. Felt lost in the world; so I decided to join an agency here in San Antonio called TDM. I gained confidence shooting different photoshoots with them and looking at myself noticing I don't look as bad as I think. Because who is checking for stretch marks or ‘out of shape’ bodies like mine as a mother of two?

I found a community on Instagram and began to grow within it by sharing my story.” Leaning into her authenticity proved to be the right path for Léhcar. Like most creatives and influencers have learned, people by and large are only attracted to real, raw and forthcoming stories and individuals. “Seeing that I am not alone and many runway shows later, I felt as if I was enough.

Starting in 2020 when Covid hit, it had its challenges, but it didn't stop me. I took on a lot of free shows and shoots to gain exposure. By 2021, I landed my first paid fashion show. Then, in 2022 I started gaining more followers and photographers wanting to sponsor me for shoots and runway events. I felt I had made it. So I was like, what's next?

I came to love creating them for myself and others. I learned they hold significance in African culture and it made me love them even more. Although I make mine more for fashion style instead of spiritual significance, I was honored to showcase them in a show in November 2022 called Divine Timing. It went so well that I even sold some pieces the same day. It felt good to be called a jewelry designer and to experience the happiness we all felt to share the style with the audience. I also attend some pop up events to sell them which usually yields a great turnout.

Juggling a career as a model and business owner is not easy. You will have some weeks where you are thriving and some when you are down, bad. I’ve experienced no consistent income here in San Antonio. As a result, I have now become a traveling model for this reason, and to gain more sponsors to pay fairly for me to model their brands and share my talents.

I have learned to take rejection after rejection all because of my look—petite, curvy with stretch marks. It can be sad, but I just focus on the many designers who cater to all body types.

With my beaded accessories company, it’s just not a business where people need it. So it can be a slow money maker, but it's something I like to create. I hope to build from it and sell other kinds of merchandise in line with my mission and aesthetic. A website is to come in my near future. I want to be more professional about it since it's direct message approach until then.”

Léhcar maintains a practical sense of business and how the world works, while being optimistic about all the room for improvement and growth there is within the fashion sector in

Texas. “What excites me most about this industry is that it grows and changes yearly, and that's a positive for me. I want to do more than modeling, like dance or be an extra in a movie. I have already been in a music video—that was so much fun. It's a good way to get comfortable with being comfortable. Sharing your life with strangers and to find out that they have similar views as you, it's exciting.

As a social butterfly, I enjoy encouraging and inspiring others to be happy within themselves, no matter what. I have met many people through my socials asking me how I became successful as a mom. Which means they know how hard it is to become successful in this industry with everyone competing for ‘the big deals’.

I honestly love looking gorgeous in dope clothes or accessories even without. Being a body positive model for me is more about the passion of selling the look in my confident body. So I come as-is, whether nude or clothed. The big deals will come, I believe, if I keep enjoying modeling and focus on growing my skills. I want to be an overall professional artist / model in this evolving entertainment industry.”

She has her eye always on a brighter future. “If I gain enough experience, I would love to own my own studio to showcase more models of all shapes and sizes. Models with different talents to share with youth who have similar goals. There are so many people changing the way they look in order to look like the people who are getting more attention. I want to have a place where you can feel like yourself and not need to alter what you look like to gain attention.”

Her advice around this is solid and simple. “We can all have the attention we need with our own beauty and skills. Be yourself and the right people will follow. This way you will be happier doing what you love to do as a profession.

My best advice is to be open minded to learning from others. Trust your instincts when agreeing to work with people in this industry. Patience is very important and being diverse. Don't be afraid to take a risk. You will go far with a positive attitude.

Be smart when it comes to taking offers. Not all money is good money—I learned that the hard way. Another reason why I now don't just work with anyone anymore. Many are out here just to use you or take advantage of you. Just how you get many rejections on casting calls is the same way you should reject offers that don’t feel right. If you second guess it, there is usually a good reason behind your gut feeling.

Say no! Be responsible! Continue to learn.”

What does the future hold for the fabulous Mrs. Ross? “I will continue to grow as a model, so please stay informed with what I have going on through my socials. I post many events on Instagram @modellehcar0910 . More branding deals will come in my near future. I also have my Facebook—the name is just Léhcar. All of my other information to contact me can be found in my Instagram bio.”

We are fortunate to witness Léhcar’s progression, since her PEPPER debut in our impactful, first ever Monochrome issue wherein she modeled my original designs and sustainable vintage fashion in a Salvador Dalí and Elsa Schiaparelli-inspired tribute to surrealism. It’s only up from here.

POSITIVELY CRYSTAL