Liya Kebede was born January 3, 1978 in Addis Ababa. Her known in Desert Flower movie, play the Somali-born model Waris Dirie. Desert Flower is a 2009 British-German biographical film based on bessselling novel by Waris Dirie and Cathleen Miller and directed by Sherry Hormann and starring Liya Kebede portray as Waris Dirie, Sally Hawkins and Craig Parkinson. It depicts the life of the Somali-born model Waris Dirie, who came from a background of a nomadic life in Somali to being a successful model in the Western fashion industry, as well as becoming a campaigner against female circumcision.
From a corner of the small town of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, Liya Kebede managed to lift his dignity and conquered the international modeling world. Now, besides being one of the world's high-priced models, clothing designer and actress, she is also a health activist mothers, infants and children.
Kebede name familiar in the modeling world. She was strolling on the catwalk various famous fashion show for years. In 2007, her name is listed in the rankings to 11th in the list of highest-paid model in the world according to Forbes magazine. Since 2005, the model that is under the auspices of the IMG has become an ambassador of World Health Organization (WHO) Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
Kebede name familiar in the modeling world. She was strolling on the catwalk various famous fashion show for years. In 2007, her name is listed in the rankings to 11th in the list of highest-paid model in the world according to Forbes magazine. Since 2005, the model that is under the auspices of the IMG has become an ambassador of World Health Organization (WHO) Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
Kebede was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. If it were not for the services of a film director who discovered and introduced her to a French modeling agency, talent women born January 3, 1980 is perhaps the world will never be recognized.
At that time, Kebede was attending Lycee Guebre Mariam. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue a dream to become a model through an agency in Paris. Soon, this brown-haired woman moved to New York City. She soon realized that the modeling industry in Ethiopia is much different from the catwalk.
Kebede's first debut as a catwalk model in the show is Ralph Lauren's spring collection and BCBG Max Azria in September 1999. However, the new big breakthrough began when designer Tom Ford personally signed Kebede for Gucci fashion show Fall / Winter 2000. In the fashion industry, the popularity of the mother of two children growing skyrocketed after he appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris May 2002 issue, devoted about him.
Since then, the face Kebede easily found everywhere. Exotic faces plastered in various fashion magazines around the world, from Italy, Japan, the United States, France, to Spain. He also often appeared in various famous brand advertising campaigns such as Shiatzy Chen, Gap, Yves Saint-Laurent, Victoria's Secret, Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger, Revlon, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada and Louis Vuitton.
Kebede is not just a beautiful face and full of talent. Women with a body height of 1.78 meters also have a heart as soft as cotton.
At that time, Kebede was attending Lycee Guebre Mariam. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue a dream to become a model through an agency in Paris. Soon, this brown-haired woman moved to New York City. She soon realized that the modeling industry in Ethiopia is much different from the catwalk.
Kebede's first debut as a catwalk model in the show is Ralph Lauren's spring collection and BCBG Max Azria in September 1999. However, the new big breakthrough began when designer Tom Ford personally signed Kebede for Gucci fashion show Fall / Winter 2000. In the fashion industry, the popularity of the mother of two children growing skyrocketed after he appeared on the cover of Vogue Paris May 2002 issue, devoted about him.
Since then, the face Kebede easily found everywhere. Exotic faces plastered in various fashion magazines around the world, from Italy, Japan, the United States, France, to Spain. He also often appeared in various famous brand advertising campaigns such as Shiatzy Chen, Gap, Yves Saint-Laurent, Victoria's Secret, Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger, Revlon, Dolce & Gabbana, Escada and Louis Vuitton.
Kebede is not just a beautiful face and full of talent. Women with a body height of 1.78 meters also have a heart as soft as cotton.
Kebede married Ethiopian hedge fund manager Kassy Kebede in 2000. They have two children together: son Suhul, born in 2001, and daughter Raee, born in 2005. As of 2007, the family resides in New York City.
In 2005, Kebede was appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. Not only that, she was then set up Liya Kebede Foundation, whose mission is to reduce maternal mortality, infant, and child in Ethiopia and worldwide. The foundation is funded advocacy and awareness-raising projects, and provide direct support for low-cost technologies, community-based education, and training and medical programs. You can learn more about her foundation at theliyakebedefoundation.org.
Women who have a clothing line named LemLem women and children, has repeatedly traveled to Ethiopia to support health projects in her homeland. Own line of clothing is handmade of local weavers from the Africa Continent.
''I'm very inspired by Bono and the Red Campaign and ideas to assist in a sustainable manner by providing economic opportunity rather than just financial assistance,'' she said once quoted as saying by website Forbes.com
''I'm very inspired by Bono and the Red Campaign and ideas to assist in a sustainable manner by providing economic opportunity rather than just financial assistance,'' she said once quoted as saying by website Forbes.com