Liya Kebede

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American Vogue has touted Liya Kebede, as a member of the "New Establishment, while Models.com proclaimed "All Hail Liya!" not long after she was featured in their "Of the Minute" section. Liya quickly moved all the way up in rank to their number one choice of "Top 50 Models". This international beauty was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. While in school at the French Lycee, a film director spotted the young beauty and introduced her to a French modeling agent. After completing her studies, she moved to France to pursue work through a local Parisian agency. Her big break came when Tom Ford chose Liya to walk in his Gucci Fall/Winter 2000 show, exclusively. It all came together when she appeared on the cover and in 4 out of 6 stories of French Vogue, shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, with a headline that proudly states the issue is "All about Liya." She has since appeared on the cover of many other international editions of Vogue (American, Italian, Japanese & Spanish), as well as Numero, V, Flair, i-D, Elle, Harper's Bazaar and Time's Style & Design issue. She was also featured on the cover of American Vogue, named as one of the leading faces of "the Return of the Super Model". Liya was featured on the cover of American Vogue for the second time, with the heading "Cover Model With a Cause". This special issue profiled her work as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nation's "World Health Organization. In the letter from the editor, Anna Wintour states, "It's very gratifying that Kebede, who has long been a model of the highest rank, should come into her own this way. She is beautiful, professional, and substantial, which makes her not just a model but a role model". Liya has also appeared on Oprah to further raise awareness on the difficulties that women and children face in the developing world. In addition, she has established The Liya Kebede Foundation which has been created to reduce mother and child mortality.

Due to Liya's high visibility, Forbes named her one of the top 15 highest earning models. She has appeared in numerous ad campaigns, including Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Emmanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger, GAP, H&M, Dolce & Gabanna, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Balenciaga, Givenchy, Gianfranco Ferre, Oscar De La Renta, Escada, and St. John. Aside from modeling, acting is another skill that Liya is cultivating. In 2005, she was featured opposite Nicholas Cage, in Lord of War, directed by Andrew Niccols. In 2007, she appeared in The Good Shepherd, directed by Robert De Niro. Liya also played the lead female role in Desert Flower, a feature length biopic of model/humanitarian, Waris Dirie. In 2008, Liya designed Lemlem, a children's clothing line hand woven in Ethiopia. She is currently working on the second collection. When she is not traveling, Liya resides in New York City with her husband, Kassy and their beautiful children, Suhul & Raee.