Beautiful Ethiopian Model Liya Kebede is Rockin' Her Fame on the Jan 2010 cover issue of Elle Italy! Photographed by Alexei Hay, Liya is rockin' couture gowns and roller skates for the spread.
Source: Concrete Loop
Liya Kebede
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Liya Kebede
Date of birth January 3, 1978 (1978-01-03) (age 32)
Place of birth Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Hair color Brown
Eye color Brown
Measurements 32.5-23-34 (US)
Dress size 3 (US)
Shoe size 9 (US)
Agency: IMG Models New York, Viva Models Paris, D'management Group
Website http://www.liyakebede.com
Liya Kebede (born January 3, 1978)[1] is an Ethiopian model and occasional actress who has appeared on the cover of US Vogue twice. According to Forbes, Kebede was eleventh-highest-paid top model in the world in 2007.[2]
Contents
1 Biography
2 Modeling career
3 Personal life
4 Quotes
5 References
6 External links
Biography
Kebede was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.[3] A film director spotted Kebede while she was attending Lycee 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. In contrast, in Ethiopia she had to provide her own shoes for each runway show.
Modeling career
Feb08 Carolina Herrera fashion show Kebede's big break came when Tom Ford asked her for an exclusive contract for his Gucci Fall/Winter 2000 fashion show[3]. Kebede was a finalist in the Miss World supermodel contest and later established a place in fashion's elite by modeling on the New York, Milan, London and Paris runway circuit [4]. Kebede's popularity in the fashion industry sky-rocketed when she appeared on the cover the May 2002 edition of Paris Vogue which dedicated the entire issue to her [4].She is now in her own independent film called "Desert Flower." It came out on September 24, 2009
Kebede has been seen on the covers of Italian, Japanese, American, French and Spanish Vogue, V, Flair, i-D and Time's Style & Design. Kebede has been featured in ad campaigns including those for Gap, Yves Saint-Laurent[5], Victoria's Secret, Emanuel Ungaro, Tommy Hilfiger[5], Revlon[5], Dolce & Gabbana, Escada and Louis Vuitton. In 2003, Kebede was named the newest face of Estée Lauder cosmetics, the first Ethiopian to serve as their representative in the company's 57-year history[6]. Her contract was rumoured to be for $3 million dollars [6].
Kebede is one of a very few African models featured in major fashion photo shoots and runway shows [7]. According to Conor Kennedy, in 2003 a booker at Elite Model Management, "It's like there's only room for one very successful black model at a time. For the past year it's been Kebede"[7].
In 2005, Kebede was appointed as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health[8]. She also appeared in a group montage on a rare (as of recent years) group montage of up and coming supermodels.
In summer of 2006 she was also one of the very few non-white models to have been given a cover of American Vogue, the issue highlighted her humanitarian work.
In July 2007, earning at an estimated total of $2.5 million in the past 12 months, Forbes named her eleventh in the list of the World's 15 Top-Earning Supermodels[9].
Kebede has also had minor roles in two films: The Good Shepherd and Lord of War.[10]
In 2008, Kebede was featured on one of the four covers of Vogue Italia's all Black Issue.
In 2009, Kebede stars in the film-adaption of the bestselling autobiography desert flower by former supermodel Waris Dirie.
Personal life
Kebede married Ethiopian hedge fund manager Kassy Kebede[3] in 2000 and they have two children together; son Suhul 8 years old born in 2001 and daughter Raee 4 years old born in 2005.[11] As of 2007, the family resides in New York City.
Aside from being a mother of two, a model, an actress, a humanitarian and a goodwill ambassador, Kebede has also designed a children's-wear line that is made in Ethiopia. Kebede says she hopes this will part a sea of change for her home country. "It's wonderful to be able to donate and help people," she says.
What do her and Talent Manager/Agent L. Renae have in common??
I too graced the cover of a magazine!!!!! hahahahahahahahaha It wasn't Elle daggone-it but it was the National Society of Black Engineers Top 50 Sexiest Engineers special issue! And I'm gonna ride it til the wheels fall off! LMBO! Or at least til I grace another cover. :-) Shoot, that magazine reached approximately 24,000 homes!!! I'M PROUD!!! LOL!!
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