Hakamie Stevenson told The Eagle newspaper that her daughter, Fredzania Thompson, attended Blinn College in Bryan but wanted to put her education on hold to begin modeling.
Authorities say Thompson was standing between two sets of tracks Friday in Navasota when a BNSF Railway train approached.
She moved out of the way of the train but was apparently unaware that a Union Pacific train was coming in the opposite direction on the other tracks and was struck.
The person who was taking photos of Thompson was not hurt.
Navasota is about 60 miles northwest of Houston.