Liya Kebede, born on January 3, 1978, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has become a prominent figure in the fashion industry and a dedicated advocate for maternal health. Her journey from a young girl in Ethiopia to an internationally recognized model, actress, designer, and philanthropist is an inspiring story of talent, determination, and a commitment to giving back.
Liya Kebede at the Cannes Film Festival in 2011
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Kebede was the only daughter in a family that also included her four brothers. While studying at the French Lycee, a film director spotted the young beauty and introduced her to a French modeling agent. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue work through a local Parisian agency.
Kebede followed the standard career path for a model and moved to Paris while still in her teens. She lasted just three months, telling London Sunday Times journalist Sarah Baxter that "it was too tough for me. I was a little girl, and it was depressing. I didn't know anybody there, and I used to call my mother every day."
Kebede refused to abandon the idea of modeling as a career, however, and instead moved to Chicago in 1999, where three of her four brothers were living at the time. She was relegated to mostly catalog work, and though she occasionally considered trying her luck in New York City, the industry professionals she knew would tell her, "'Oh, they're going to eat you alive,'" she recalled to Iman in Essence. "It was very discouraging."
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A lucky confluence of romance and opportunity came together in 2000, when she married Kassy Kebede, an investment banker she had met on a trip home to Ethiopia. Her future husband, who lived in both Hong Kong and London, was also a native of Ethiopia, and a whirlwind romance ensued that kicked off with a first official date on a safari trip to Kenya. "I felt so comfortable," she said of meeting her future husband in an interview with Cathy Horyn for Town & Country. "For any girl to go on a date in Kenya with a guy she's just met is crazy. But it didn't seem crazy."
Breakthrough in the Fashion Industry
The newlyweds settled in Manhattan when Kassy Kebede's work brought him to Wall Street, and there Liya Kebede's career took off in earnest. Kebede made her debut in 1999, walking for Ralph Lauren and BCBG Max Azria during New York Fashion Week.
Kebede's break came thanks to designer Tom Ford, who had seen her picture and decided to put her on the runway for his Spring 2000 collection for Gucci. Ford's support also led to a deal to appear in the advertising campaign for Rive Gauche, the venerable fragrance from Yves Saint Laurent.
Kebede's career almost stalled just as it began, however, when the model learned she was pregnant with her first child, but her slim frame managed to conceal her condition for several months, which allowed her to keep working. Once she returned from her maternity break after the birth of son Suhul, scores of new jobs followed. She took to the runway once more in collections for Donna Karan, Chanel, and Dolce & Gabbana, and was also hired to appear in ads for Tommy Hilfiger and Revlon.
In May of 2002, Kebede appeared on the cover of French Vogue and virtually dominated the issue inside. The cover headline affirmed her status as one of the world's most sought-after models, promising to tell readers "All About Liya," and she was featured in three-quarters of its editorial spreads. Not only was she just the third African woman ever to appear on the cover of French Vogue, no other model of any ethnic background had been featured so heavily in a single issue of the magazine before then.
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Kebede caused a more international sensation in April of 2003, when the Estee Lauder cosmetics company announced it had signed her as its newest face for its lavish, ubiquitous advertising campaigns. She was the first black woman ever to represent the company, joining a long roster of other top models that included news reporter Willow Bay, Czech-born model Paulina Porizkova, and actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Kebede joined Hurley and model Carolyn Murphy as part of a trio of global faces for the brand, and her contract was rumored to have given her a $3 million payday. "The choice of Liya herself was first linked to her style and personality," company president Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne told Michele Orecklin in Time. "But she also makes the image of the brand hipper and more fashion forward. You can't have a single white face express the diversity of the world today."
Riz Khan - Liya Kebede: Fighting for maternal health
Riz Khan - Liya Kebede: Fighting for maternal health
Acting Career
In 2009, Kebede starred in the film adaptation of the bestselling autobiography Desert Flower by former supermodel Waris Dirie. The film recounts Dirie's childhood in Somalia, her rise to stardom and subsequent awareness campaign against female circumcision. It premiered at the Venice Film Festival and received a standing ovation.
Kebede has also had minor roles in The Good Shepherd (2006) and Lord of War (2005).
Lemlem: A Sustainable Fashion Line
Kebede launched Lemlem, a clothing line, in 2007. Lemlem, which means "to bloom" in Amharic, features hand-spun, woven and embroidered women and children's clothing. Kebede founded the line to help preserve the art of traditional weaving in Ethiopia, and to offer work opportunities to local artisans.
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In 2007, Liya Kebede launched LemLem- a line of sustainable, handmade clothing and accessories made by artisans from her home of Ethiopia. She incorporated an important tradition of her home place to create something that will make an impact on many people’s lives. Lemlem increased the amount of jobs for women in Africa while also creating awareness for maternal health.
Clothing from Liya Kebede's Lemlem fashion line
Philanthropic Work and Advocacy
Kebede and her husband had a second child, a daughter they named Raee, in 2005, and live in a staid part of the Upper East Side known as Carnegie Hill. That same year, Kebede was named a goodwill ambassador for the World Health Organization (WHO), with a focus on its maternal, newborn and child health programs.
In 2005, Kebede was appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Soon afterward, she helped kick off the WHO campaign to reduce obstetric fistula, a painful, dangerous, and socially ostracizing condition that is the result of inadequate medical care during childbirth. Kebede's mission was to raise awareness for this condition and reduce its rate of occurrence; she also hoped to remind others that statistics were grim for many women and children across much of Africa.
She then founded the Liya Kebede Foundation, whose mission is to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality in Ethiopia and around the world. Kebede has traveled to Ethiopia to support maternal health projects on multiple occasions.
| Year | Event/Achievement |
|---|---|
| 2003 | Became the first black spokesmodel for Estée Lauder |
| 2005 | Appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health |
| 2007 | Launched Lemlem, a sustainable clothing line |
| 2009 | Starred in the film adaptation of "Desert Flower" |
Legacy and Influence
Liya Kebede’s influence transcends the realms of fashion, film, and philanthropy as she passionately engages with literature through her ‘Liyabraire’ instagram page. Liya has created a virtual sanctuary for bibliophiles, sharing her literary explorations, cherished book recommendations, and insightful musings on the transformative power of storytelling. A unique highlight of her literary endeavors is the introduction of the BB bookbags-an inspired collection dedicated exclusively to carrying books.
Liya Kebede's journey is a testament to her talent, hard work, and dedication. She has not only achieved success in her career but has also used her platform to make a positive impact on the world, particularly in the areas of maternal health and sustainable fashion.
