Liisa was raised in Belleville, Ontario. She was aged 15 and still in high school when she was discovered by Audra Anderson of the Mode Elle model agency in Belleville. She studied ballet but had to give it up when she grew too tall. Initially, Liisa began modelling in Australia before eventually moving to New York. She is dating Ryan Boorne, a dancer with the National Ballet of Canada. Liisa has appeared in the 2001 Pirelli calendar.