Liya Kebede Biography: Age, Husband, Height, Net Worth, Children, Movies, Parents, Foundation

Liya Kebede is an Ethiopian supermodel, actress, clothing designer, and maternal health advocate who has left an indelible mark on the global fashion industry and philanthropy.

Discovered in high school, she rose to fame after an exclusive contract with Tom Ford for Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2000 show, becoming the first Black model to represent Estée Lauder in 2003.

Her appearances on 20 Vogue covers and campaigns for brands like Louis Vuitton and Yves Saint-Laurent have cemented her status as a fashion icon. Kebede founded Lemlem in 2007, a sustainable clothing line preserving Ethiopian weaving traditions, and the Liya Kebede Foundation to support maternal and child health, reflecting her commitment to social impact.

Profile

• Full Name: Liya Kebede
• Stage Name: Liya Kebede
• Born: 1 March, 1978
• Age: 47 years old
• Birthplace: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• Nationality: Ethiopian
• Occupation: Supermodel, Actress, Clothing Designer, Maternal Health Advocate
• Height: 1.78 m
• Parents: Mr. Kebede, Mrs. Kebede
• Siblings: Four brothers
• Spouse: Kassy Kebede (m. 2000–2015)
• Children: Suhul Kebede, Raee Kebede
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: Approximately $18 million

Early Life and Education

Liya Kebede was born on March 1, 1978, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to a middle-class Amhara family, the only daughter among four brothers.

Her father worked as an airline executive for Ethiopian Airlines, and her mother was in public relations.

Growing up, she was an avid reader and learned fluent French and English at Lycée Guebre-Mariam, a Franco-Ethiopian school in Addis Ababa, where she considered careers in journalism, teaching, or becoming a flight attendant.

A film director spotted her during high school, connecting her with a French modeling agent, which sparked her move to Paris at 18 to pursue modeling after completing her studies. She is of Ethiopian ethnicity, and her religion is not publicly known.

Career

Liya Kebede’s modeling career began in 1999 with debuts at Ralph Lauren and BCBG Max Azria shows in Paris.

Her breakthrough came in 2000 when Tom Ford selected her for an exclusive contract for Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2000 runway, catapulting her to global fame.

In 2002, Paris Vogue dedicated an entire issue to her, a historic first for a Black model, and in 2003, she became the first Black woman to represent Estée Lauder in a $3 million deal.

She has appeared on 20 Vogue covers (US, Paris, Italia, Japan, Spain) and fronted campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint-Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, and L’Oréal Paris, where she became an ambassador in 2011.

Forbes ranked her the 11th highest-paid model in 2007, earning $2.5 million that year.

Beyond modeling, Kebede launched Lemlem in 2007, a sustainable clothing line meaning “to bloom” in Amharic, to preserve Ethiopia’s traditional weaving and create jobs for artisans.

Now sold at retailers like Net-a-Porter, J.Crew, and Barneys, Lemlem expanded to Kenya and Morocco, employing over 200 artisans.

Her acting career includes roles in Desert Flower (2009) as Waris Dirie, alongside minor parts in Lord of War (2005) and The Good Shepherd (2006).

Since 2005, she has served as a WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, founding the Liya Kebede Foundation to reduce maternal and child mortality through education and medical support.

Her foundation’s work led to a 50% increase in hospital deliveries at one Ethiopian health center within a year. In 2013, Glamour named her a Woman of the Year for her philanthropy.

Currently, Kebede remains a fashion industry leader, ranked among models.com’s “New Supers” and featured in a 2024 Vogue shoot with her children, Suhul and Raee, photographed by Tyler Mitchell.

She divides her time between New York, Europe, and Ethiopia, balancing modeling, Lemlem’s growth, and her foundation’s initiatives.

Her recent H&M collaboration for Lemlem, launched on Earth Day 2024, highlights her ongoing commitment to sustainable fashion, though it faced challenges in not using Lemlem’s artisan supply chain.

Kebede continues to advocate for maternal health and African artisans, inspiring a new generation of ethical fashion and activism.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @liyakebede
• Facebook Handle: Liya Kebede
• Twitter Handle: @LiyaKebede

Personal Life

Liya Kebede married Ethiopian hedge fund manager Kassy Kebede in 2000 after meeting during a trip to Ethiopia.

They have two children, Suhul (born 2000) and Raee (born 2005), and lived in New York’s Upper East Side until their divorce in 2015.

Now single, Kebede splits her time between New York, where her daughter Raee attends the Dalton School, Europe for work, and Ethiopia to visit her mother. Her private life remains low-key, with a focus on family and philanthropy.

Filmography

• Lord of War (2005)
• The Good Shepherd (2006)
• Desert Flower (2009) – Waris Dirie

Net Worth

Liya Kebede has an estimated net worth of approximately $18 million USD.

Her wealth stems from her decades-long modeling career, including high-profile contracts with Estée Lauder ($3 million) and L’Oréal Paris, as well as campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and others.

Lemlem, her sustainable clothing line, contributes significantly through sales at 150 retailers worldwide.