Photo: nicolas genin / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Liya Kebede is the rare figure who turned modeling fame into something larger. Born in Addis Ababa, she rose to the top of fashion, gracing the cover of Vogue twenty times, which is a staggering number that speaks to her staying power. What earns my respect, though, is what she did with that platform. Serving as the World Health Organization's Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health since 2005, plus her work as a clothing designer and actress, shows real range and purpose. I admire when someone uses an industry built on image to advocate for something with genuine human stakes.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Liya Kebede
- Name (Japanese)
- リヤ・ケベデ
- Reading
- りや・けべで
- Born
- March 1, 1978 (age 48)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Horse
- Origin
- Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- Height
- 178 cm
- Occupation
- model / actor / diplomat / fashion designer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- Trophée Chopard
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.liyakebede.com/
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/liyakebede/
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%AA%E3%83%A4%E3%83%BB%E3%82%B1%E3%83%99%E3%83%87
Frequently asked questions
When was Liya Kebede born?
Born March 1, 1978 (age 48).
Where is Liya Kebede from?
Liya Kebede is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
What does Liya Kebede do?
Liya Kebede works as model, actor, diplomat, fashion designer.
How tall is Liya Kebede?
Liya Kebede is 178 cm.
Model — see all → · Actor — see all → · More people from Ethiopia →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.