Liya Kebede life and biography

Liya Kebede is an Ethiopian model, maternal health advocate, clothing designer and actress who has appeared three times on the cover of US Vogue . According to Forbes, Kebede was eleventh-highest-paid top model in the world in 2007. Since 2005, Kebede has served as the WHO's Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

Kebede was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A film director spotted her 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.

Liya's big break came when she was asked for an exclusive contract for a fall/winter Gucci show. This established her amongst the modeling elite, alongside Tyra Banks and Kate Moss. In 2003 she was named the newest face of Estee Lauder cosmetics, making her the first person of color to serve as their representative in the company's 57 year history.

Unlike many others who make it in the fashion industry, Liya didn't immediately start dating Leonardo DiCaprio, and in fact focused her effort on working for the World Health Organization, as an ambassador for child health. In summer fo 2006 she was given the cover of American Vogue, which contained an article about her humanitarian work, that men everywhere pretended to read while staring at the pictures in front of their girlfriends.

As of July 2007, Liya is earning an estimated total of 2.5 dollars a year, making her one of the top fifteen earning supermodels in the world. She has also recently had minor roles in "The Good Shepherd," with Matt Damon, and "Lord of War," with Nicholas Cage's hair.

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