Liya Kebede is a supermodel
born January 3, 1980 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.
--Wikipedia
