Liya Kebede is a supermodel
born and raised in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia. As a young
woman, Liya did modeling in
her native Ethiopia. She has
remarked that the modeling
industry in that country is
quite different from the
European catwalks from which
she is now seen ubiquitously.
In Ethiopia, she had to
provide her own shoes for
more

Liya Kebede is a supermodel
born and raised in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia. As a young
woman, Liya did modeling in
her native Ethiopia. She has
remarked that the modeling
industry in that country is
quite different from the
European catwalks from which
she is now seen ubiquitously.
In Ethiopia, she had to
provide her own shoes for each
runway show.

While in school at the French
Lycee, a film director spotted
Liya and introduced her to a
French modelling agent. After
completing her studies, she
moved to France to pursue work
through a local Parisian
agency. After a short time,
Liya re-located to NYC where
she currently resides with her
husband Kassy Kebede.

She has been seen on the
covers of Italian, Japanese
and Spanish Vogue, V, French,
Flair, i-D and Time's Style &
Design. She is one of a very
few ethnically African models
featured in major fashion
photo shoots and runway shows.
She is often used in haute
couture and other high-class
clothing campaigns, as well as
Victoria's Secret (though she
is not the curvy, busty
Swimsuit model type Tyra Banks
and Naomi Campbell were).

Liya has been featured in ad
campaigns including Gap, YSL,
Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy
Hilfiger, Dolce & Gabbana and
currently in S/S 2004 ads for
Escada and Louis Vuitton. Liya
was recently named the newest
face of Estee Lauder
cosmetics, the first black to
serve as their representative
in the company's 57-year
history
This compelled the New York
Times to write an article
about how Liya has
successfully triumphed over
the challenges that face
models of color in today's
industry.

Liya has also established
herself amongst the ranks of
fashion's elite on the NY -
Milan - Paris runway circuit.
Her big break came when Tom
Ford asked Liya to walk in
exclusive for his Gucci A/W
2000 fashion show.

In 2005, she was appointed as
WHO Goodwill Ambassador for
Maternal, Newborn and Child
Health. She currently lives in
New York City with her husband
Kassy Kebede and son Suhul.

Category Entertainment

Tags Liya, , kebede, Ethiopia, super, model, icon, r&b, hip, hop, ethio