Liya Kebede
Liya Kebede
Liya Kebede 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...
NationalityEthiopian
ProfessionModel
Date of Birth1 March 1978
CityAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
CountryEthiopia
priorities president aids
President Obama has made maternal health one of the core priorities of U.S. international aid funding.
way interest valuable
I can contribute, be valuable, and grow in many ways, since my interests are so varied. That is very satisfying.
children world east-africa
Miriam Were has made outstanding contributions to public health in the developing world. She brings basic medical services to women and children in East Africa.
feet graves pregnant
Theres a saying in Africa: To find out you are pregnant is to have one foot in the grave.
mom might care
I'm a mom. I'm from Ethiopia. I gave birth in the U.S. and had all the proper care available to me. If I had given birth in Ethiopia - I don't know if I might have even survived it.
country order support
When countries commit to protecting vulnerable lives, they should receive support from those who can provide it in order to make their programs a success.
country giving birth-life
No other health disparity is so stark; virtually every woman who dies giving birth lives in a poor country.
husband blood ultrasounds
While I was pregnant, I had dozens of checkups. They covered everything from blood tests to ultrasounds, and I even had the option of attending birthing classes with my husband.
personality important brands
It is important for me that I represent a brand that reflects my personality.
real helping-others giving
Helping others isn't a chore, it is one of the greatest gifts there is. I want to challenge the next generation of women to find a way to give back that inspires and fulfills them and weave it into their daily lives. If the next generation can learn that early on, we have a real chance to change the world.
fashion people asking
Traveling around Ethiopia, I saw dozens of abandoned textile factories. People kept asking me to help them find work. So I thought I could make use of my experience in fashion to commercialize their products outside of Ethiopia.
baby dedication people
Creative new health strategies like micro-insurance for poor people or Kangaroo care for pre-term babies are transforming health outcomes in even the most low-resource settings. Dedication and innovation are transforming health care worldwide.
thinking should
I really don't think there should be a movie about me. That's for sure!
nice desert heat
The desert loves me. I love the desert. It's nice to be in the heat in Africa. I love it.