The Ethiopian-born model, fashion designer, philanthropist and actress is one of the biggest and earliest African faces to make a huge name and impact internationally. The acclaimed model has been featured on numerous runway shows and featured in campaigns to fashion’s biggest names and brands such as Gucci, Yves Saint-Laurent, Tommy Hilfiger and Louis Vuitton but to mention a few. Together with this she has appeared numerously on the cover of Vogue editions for different countries.
Liya’s international modelling debut with Gucci fall/winter collection by Tom Ford was what propelled her career to international acclaim. Her fashion flair on runways and campaign are undeniable as her unique features and beauty are to behold.
Aside from modelling, Liya Kebede also launched a fashion line of ready-to-wear clothing. Lemlem, the clothing line that translates “to bloom” features woven, embroidered and hand-spun women and children garments that showcases traditional Ethiopian-type dressing was started to not only promote her culture by offering opportunities to local Ethiopian artisans , but also to preserve it. The line is available at Barney’s, Net-a-porer.com and numerous boutiques.
Her personal style is one that varies and cuts across the board as she tries to different styles from preppy where she’s spotted wearing skater skirts and sweaters with collared shirts underneath. Her exotic style is coupled with prints and free-fitting dresses. For her tomboy looks, she incorporates boyfriend jeans and canvas shoes. The laid-back tomboy look is her most favoured as she is publicly spotted a number of times wearing it.
Her success in the international fashion world is just but a tip of the iceberg of her great and vast accomplishments. She is a maternal health advocate having been appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, New-born and Child Health in 2005. Her foundation Liya Kebede Foundation that targets Maternal Heath Care that she started to help the women of her home country of Ethiopia and worldwide led to her being voted one of Glamour’s Women of the Year for her philanthropic work through her Foundation. She has also helped to make aware and advocate against female circumcision with her appearance on the film adaptation of the book desert flower by Waris Dirie a former supermodel from Somalia.
The mother of two lovely children a son Suhul and daughter Raee is one who has proven herself as great and imprinted her name in the fashion world.
