Revealed
Episode 15
Liya Kebede
On this month's show, one of the world's hottest supermodels reveals a different agenda to the stereotypical clothes hanger. Liya Kebede is not just a pretty face. She's determined to use her fame to help alleviate the health problems suffered by mothers in some of the world's poorest regions. 'Revealed' showcases Kebede in the glamorous world of New York fashion and sees her journey to native Ethiopia on a World Health Organisation trip.
Born in Addis Abba, Kebede was not always thought of as a natural beauty. "I was really thin and people used to make fun of me...they never thought it was an advantage - I did whatever it took to gain weight." The story of her rise to cover-girl fame began when Gucci creative director Tom Ford handpicked the budding model for his Fall/Winter 2000 campaign. Revealed talks to Ford on what he saw in the then, unknown hopeful.
In 2003, Kebede was named the newest face of Estée Lauder cosmetics, making her the first person of color to serve as their representative in the company's 57-year history. The $3 million contract helped cement Liya's place amongst fashion's elite, allowing her to open doors for other women of color. Kebede's face quickly became hot currency in the fashion world. Her face frequently appears on the cover of major magazines from Vogue to Time, and fronts countless ad campaigns including Gap, and Dolce & Gabbana.
However, Kebede's real campaigning instinct is directed towards worldwide maternal health. Herself a mother of two, she was appointed WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in 2005. Kebede uses her supermodel status to bring people's attention to the millions of avoidable deaths that occur in the developing world. She continues to highlight the fact that each day on average 1600 mothers die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. During our time with her she organises a Teen Vogue Fashion Show and Charity Auction to raise money for medical care and support for mothers. The event is a huge success and raises $94,000 for Kebede's foundation.
From fashion shows and photo shoots to hospital visits and press conferences, Kebede takes us in to her high-profile world.
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