This Ethiopian supermodel has taken the fashion world by storm all over the planet. Liya Kebede once proved to herself and everyone in the area that even a simple girl from the outback can fulfill her dream, despite all the obstacles.
Now Leah is a sought-after model and one of the most significant women in the world. And once her peers laughed at her for her thinness and tall stature.
Childhood of the future star
Baby Leah was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 1, 1978. She grew up as an obedient and very purposeful child. Even as a teenager, Leah knew who she wanted to be. In addition, she dreamed of helping people, seeing all the sorrows that many Ethiopian families face.
At the age of 15, the girl began to gradually master modeling skills and entered modeling courses. By the way, she was very good at it, almost immediately the young model began to participate in the shows of local designers.
First independent steps
After leaving school, Leah entered the Lycee Guebre-Mariam Lyceum. And herehere and worked His Majesty the case. Once Liya Kebede met with a French agent, who invited the girl to start a career in France. And when she turned 18, she immediately went to conquer the French podium. And after only a year, the young model appeared in two shows at once: Ralph Lauren and BCBG Max Azria (2000).
Leah made a splash. And soon Tom Ford invited the model for the prestigious Gucci show. A short time later, Kebede was on the cover of fashion magazine V Magazine. But 2001 prepared a lot of work for the young beauty - fashion weeks in London, Milan, New York and Paris, and the girl also became the face of the popular brand Yves Saint Laurent. Well, it could not have done without Victoria's Secret - in 2002, Liya Kebede became one of the beautiful angels of the loud show.
Soon, the prestigious company Estee Lauder offered the beautiful Leah a 6-year contract. And this fact made a lot of noise. The fact is that for the first time in the history of the company, a dark-skinned girl became the face of a famous brand. By the way, it even played into the hands of both parties - the general interest and popularity only increased.
The following years, the already famous model worked tirelessly. She has walked for famous brands such as Numero France, Pop Magazine, Vogue Paris, Grazia, Elle, Vogue US and many more. And even when Leah became pregnant with her second child in 2005, she did not stop working as much as possible.
Below in the photo Liya Kebede, as always, young and flawless.
Such a different and infinitely talented woman
In 2007 Leah and her family moved to New York. After the birth of her daughter, Leah became interested in modeling children's clothes - from newborns to teenagers. It is interesting and very worthy of respect that Liya Kebede opened a garment factory in Ethiopia, thereby creating jobs for many women in the area.
This woman deserves even more respect for her far from secondary role in preventing the death of young mothers and their newborns. In 2005, Leah accepted with joy and enthusiasm the invitation to become a WHO Goodwill Ambassador. Moreover, Leah knows firsthand about the existence of such a problem. In third world countries, there is a sad fact - often due to a lack of personnel and medicines, a mother or child dies due to complications during or after childbirth.
I would like to add to the list of talents of a beautiful girl that she is also an excellent actress. What is the film "Desert Flower" (2009), based on the autobiographical book of the Somali model Waris Dirie, worth. Liya Kebeda acted as an actress in several more films:
- "Lord of War" (2005);
- "False Temptation" (2006);
- "Black Gold" (2011);
- "The Jungle Is Calling! In Search of Marsupilami" (2012);
- "Capital" (2012);
- "Best Offer" (2013);
- "Innocence" (2013);
- "In the Woods" (2013).
But in 2013, Leah became the "Woman of the Year" for her work as a WHO Ambassador. And once she was even given a peculiar title - "Supermodel Mom on a Mission".
Personal life of a sultry beauty
Personal life in the biography of Liya Kebede is not replete with scandalous star novels. Back in 2000, she married Ethiopian businessman Cassie Kebede. By the way, Liya gave birth to a son, Sukhula, in 2001, and a daughter, Reyi, in 2005. For many years the family lived together, but now there is information that the couple is divorced.
