Liya Kebede
| Liya Kebede ሊያ ከበደ |
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|---|---|
Kebede at the 2010 Time 100 Gala.
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| Born |
1 March 1978 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Spouse(s) | Kassy Kebede (2000- separated 2013) |
| Website | www |
| Modeling information | |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Hair color | Brown |
| Eye color | Brown |
| Manager |
IMG Models New York Viva Models Paris |
Liya Kebede (Amharic: ሊያ ከበደ?; born 1 March 1978) is an Ethiopian-born model, maternal health advocate, clothing designer, and actress. Forbes identified her the eleventh-highest-paid top model in the world in 2007, and she has appeared three times on the cover of U.S. Vogue.
Kebede has served as the WHO's Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health since 2005.
Kebede was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A film director spotted her while she was attending Lycée Guebre-Mariam and introduced her to a French modeling agent. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue work through a Parisian agency. Kebede later relocated to New York City. She has remarked that the modeling industry in Ethiopia is quite different from the catwalks on which she is now ubiquitous because in Ethiopia she had to provide her own shoes for each runway show.
Kebede's big break came when Tom Ford asked her for an exclusive contract for his Gucci Fall/Winter 2000 fashion show. Then in May 2002 she was on the cover of Paris Vogue, which dedicated the entire issue to her.
Kebede has been seen on the covers of Italian, Japanese, American, French and Spanish Vogue, V, Flair, i-D and Time's Style & Design. She has been featured in ad campaigns including those for Shiatzy Chen, Gap, Yves Saint-Laurent,Victoria's Secret, Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger,Revlon,Dolce & Gabbana, Escada and Louis Vuitton.
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