Liya Kebede (born January 3, 1978 in Addis Ababa) is an Ethiopian supermodel who has appeared on the cover of US Vogue twice. According to Forbes, Kebede was eleventh-highest-paid top model in 2007.Biography
Liya was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A film director spotted Liya while she was attending Lycee Guebre Mariam (a French high school in Addis Ababa) and introduced her to a French modeling agent. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue work through a Parisian agency. Liya later relocated to New York City. She has remarked that the modeling industry in Ethiopia is quite different from the catwalks on which she is now ubiquitous. In contrast, in Ethiopia she had to provide her own shoes for each runway show.
Liya was a contestant in the 1998 Face of Africa, however she didn't even place in the Top 5. Oluchi won the 1998 competition.
Personal Life
Kebede married Ethiopian hedge fund manager Kassy Kebede in 2000 and they have two children together; son Suhul (b. 2001) and daughter Raee (b. August 2005). As of 2007, the family resides in New York City.
Modeling Career
Liya's big break came when Tom Ford asked her for an exclusive contract for his Gucci Fall/Winter 2000 fashion show. Liya established a place in fashion's elite by modeling on the New York, Milan and Paris runway circuit. Liya's popularity in the fashion industry sky-rocketed when she appeared on the cover the May 2002 edition of Paris Vogue which dedicated the entire issue to her.
Liya has been seen on the covers of Italian, Japanese, American, French and Spanish Vogue, V, Flair, i-D and Time's Style & Design. Liya has been featured in ad campaigns including those for Gap, Yves Saint-Laurent, Victoria's Secret, Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger, Revlon, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada and Louis Vuitton. In 2003, Liya was named the newest face of Estée Lauder cosmetics, the first person of color to serve as their representative in the company's 57-year history. Her contract was rumoured to be for $3 million dollars.
Liya is one of a very few ethnically African models featured in major fashion photo shoots and runway shows. According to Conor Kennedy, in 2003 a booker at Elite Model Management, "It's like there's only room for one very successful black model at a time. For the past year, it's been Liya Kebede".In 2005, Liya was appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. She also appeared in a group montage on a rare (well, rare as of recent years) group montage of up and coming supermodels.
In summer of 2006 she was also one of the very few black models to have been given a cover of American Vogue, the issue highlighted her humanitarian work.
In July 2007, earning at an estimated total of $2.5 million in the past 12 months, Forbes named her eleventh in the list of the World's 15 Top-Earning Supermodels.
Liya has also had minor roles in two films: The Good Shepherd, and Lord of War.
Quotes
- "Every day we hear about the dangers of cancer, heart disease and AIDS. But how many of us realize that, in much of the world, the act of giving life to a child is still the biggest killer of women of child-bearing age? That over half a million die every year? Or that 3 million babies are stillborn? Or that another 4 million die during the first days and weeks of life?" – during her acceptance of the 2005 UN Day Award.
Melaku says:
I found Liya's life history quite interesting. She is a pioneer in her field who should be emulated by other Ethiopian youngsters.
source: Wikipedia
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