News

May 17, 2010

Model Citizen: Liya Kebede Gives Back

By Patrice Williams

Liya Kebede could rest on her beautiful laurels, but she chooses to make a difference. She's graced countless Vogue covers, was the first model of color to sign a deal with Estee Lauder and has been ranked by Forbes as one of the highest paid models. But what Kebede really focuses on is her charitable work.

When she learned weave makers in her native Ethiopia were being put out of work due to lack of demand, the statuesque beauty mixed her love of fashion and philanthropy to create a clothing line. Lemlem, which means to flourish or bloom in Amharic, employs local artists to create modern pieces with a traditional feel. "I launched Lemlem to preserve this art form and support sustainable business in Ethiopia," Kebede told Black Voices.

The three-year-old line originally just included children's clothing but the Spring/Summer collection now features womenswear, including tunics, dresses and handbags. The expansion of Lemlem doesn't just mean more options for fashionistas, but success for Kebede's home country.

"As the brand grows, we employ more and more people in Ethiopia which is at the core of what Lemlem is about," she said. "We hope that our weavers will be able to build better lives for themselves and their children."

Kebede's charitable work isn't just limited to her clothing line. The Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health created her eponymous foundation to ensure women across the world have access to proper medical care. The mother of two sees the issue quite simply: Women are dying and action must be taken.

"I founded the Liya Kebede Foundation because every minute a woman dies in child birth," she said. "Mostly from preventable causes. Ten million more suffer devastating illnesses and complications. To me, that is unacceptable."

Her foundation helps build maternal clinics and educate policy makers. Kebede said doesn't just see this as a woman's issue but as a cause we should all be fighting for.

"It's been proven that when you invest in mother's lives, you create healthier families, more economic growth and more stable societies," she asserted.

So it's no wonder the model mom was just named one of Time's 100 most influential people. The list, which Time defines as "the people who most affect our world," includes notables such as Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. Though an amazing honor, Kebede sees the accolade as motivation to continue her charitable work.

"Being honored amongst 99 other incredible people is truly a humbling experience," she said. "It motivates me to continue bringing awareness to investing in the welfare of mothers and children around the world. I hope this honor will open the door to many other opportunities."

For more on Lemlem, visit www.lemlem.com

To learn more about the Liya Kebede Foundation, visit www.theliyakebedefoundation.org

NEWS ARCHIVE

2011
Liya joins with TOMS and Glamour
Liya featured on giggle.com!
Liya taking a stand for the horn of Afri
Liya speaks at UNICEF breakfast on Women
Liya's call to action for the Horn of Af
Liya Kebede co-hosts launch of the Women
ABC's Be the Change Save a Life Intervie
Liya Makes Mother's Day Video
Liya Visits Awassa Maternal Health Clini
Liya participates in YouTube's World Vie
Support the Liya Kebede Foundation by Bi
Liya's Travel Diary for One Campaign's L
Liya Kebede Foundation Adds Facebook Fan
Liya Kebede Foundation Partners with Cha

2010
TIME Person of the Year Nominations
Model and Activist Liya Kebede On Inspir
Why Protests Aren't What We Should Remem
"Star of Africa", Guardian UK
4,738 Letters for Mothers' Lives and Cou
Open Letter to G8 Leaders
Melinda Gates on Maternal Health Innovat
Liya Kebede in Time 100 Roundtables
Model Citizen: Liya Kebede Gives Back
Liya Kebede on TIME 100 List
Liya calls on Congress to invest in crit
Liya Kebede Named Young Global Leader by
Triple Threat: Supermodel, Entrepreneur
Obama's Budget Invests in Moms
"Redefining Impossible," Huffington Post

2009
Gates Foundation Living Proof
Leaders Demand Action on MDG 5
Women Demand Action to Save Mothers
High Level UN Event for Maternal Health
It Girl, Vogue
"We Need a Global Fund for Moms," Huffin
Giant Magazine's Most Influential People
Liya Addresses UN Forum
Liya meets with Congressional Leaders on
Liya on Plum TV's Giving
Liya on the Today Show
"When Mothers Die," Giving Beast
Liya Joins Huffington Post
Liya Profiled in SOHO House

2008
Liya Visits Earthquake Devastated China
"She Who Cares Wins," Vogue Australia
Adolescent Girls Initiative
Women Leaders Dinner
Champions for an HIV Free Generation

2007
Liya Receives Orphan Ranger Award
Liya Featured on Al Jazeera's Riz Khan
Liya Speaks at the National Press Club
Deliver Now! Saving 77 Million by 2015
"Liya Rising," Vanity Fair
Liya Featured on CNN's Revealed
LKF Mother's Day Campaign
Liya Receives the Smart Cookie Award
Meeting of Women Parliamentarians
Liya in Marie Claire
Liya on Good Morning America

2006
Liya on the Oprah Winfrey Show
Liya in Self Magazine
LKF and Worldwide Orphans Foundation
WHO Highlights Impact of Fistula
A Message from Liya to the WHO
"Saving Mothers," Essence Magazine

2005
Liya in New York Times Style Magazine
Liya Kebede Addresses the UN
Liya Kebede Named Goodwill Ambassador