hfm BEAUTY
L
iya Kebede is a pioneering
model: the first to be
dedicated an entire issue
of Vogue Paris, the first
model ambassador for
the World Health Organisation
and, at 41, she’s an ambassador
for L’Oréal Paris, too. Having
dominated the fashion world since
2000, when she was handpicked
by Tom Ford to walk exclusively
for Gucci, this season Liya was cast
for Saint Laurent and Agnona.
The mother-of-two is an equally
formidable force away from the
catwalk, as a sustainable fashion
entrepreneur and maternal health
advocate. “I became an ambassador
for the World Health Organisation
to raise awareness about maternal
health issues, and so the Lemlem
Foundation stemmed from that.”
Launched over ten years ago,
the organisation’s mission is
to give vital midwifery training
across Africa and help reduce
maternal mortality rates.
Liya’s other passion project
is fashion label Lemlem, which
is stocked on Net-a-porter and
created to preserve Ethiopian
weaving traditions and support
local craftswomen. Here’s what we
took away from an enlightening
encounter with the model...Words ELLE SIXSMITH
LIFE
ACCORDING
TO LIYA
From Gucci girl to women’s health advocate, Ethiopian model Liya
Kebede is on a mission to empower mothers. As well as simple beauty
mantras, here she discusses meditation, patience and intuition1.
FIND YOUR
SIGNATURE
“I’ve loved Calvin Klein
Eternity, £69, all my life.
It reminds me of high
school. To experience
the same smell in a
different phase of your
life is quite special.”5.
OIL’S WELL
“My hair requires
a lot of moisture so
I’m all about oils.
I use L’Oréal Elvive
Extraordinary
Oil, £9.99, before my
shampoo, and then
reapply it on wet hair
to lock in hydration.”4.
EMPOWER
WOMEN
“Over the last couple
of years I have merged
the foundation with my
clothing brand Lemlem.
The goal is to employ
artisans to preserve the
art of weaving, as well
as working with maternal
health issues. We’re
trying to bring more
women into the craft and
give them training so they
can become independent
and self-sufficient.”3.
TREAT YOURSELF
“I like binging on
Netflix and taking a
relaxing bath at the
end of a long day.”2.
BE MINDFUL
“I try to meditate every
morning. I’m currently
trying to fit in an exercise
regime, which is quite
new for me. When I’m in
New York, I do a bit of
jogging, yoga and ballet
barre, which I love.”hfm BEAUTY
L
iyaKebedeis a pioneering
model:thefirsttobe
dedicatedanentireissue
ofVogueParis,thefirst
modelambassadorfor
theWorldHealthOrganisation
and,at41,she’sanambassador
forL’OréalParis,too.Having
dominatedthefashionworldsince
2000,whenshewashandpicked
by TomFordtowalkexclusively
forGucci,thisseasonLiyawascast
forSaintLaurentandAgnona.
Themother-of-twois anequally
formidableforceawayfromthe
catwalk,asa sustainablefashion
entrepreneurandmaternalhealth
advocate.“I becameanambassador
fortheWorldHealthOrganisation
to raiseawarenessaboutmaternal
healthissues,andsotheLemlem
Foundationstemmedfromthat.”
Launchedovertenyearsago,
theorganisation’smissionis
to givevitalmidwiferytraining
acrossAfricaandhelpreduce
maternalmortalityrates.
Liya’sotherpassionproject
is fashionlabelLemlem,which
is stockedonNet-a-porterand
createdtopreserveEthiopian
weavingtraditionsandsupport
localcraftswomen.Here’swhatwe
tookawayfromanenlightening
encounterwiththemodel...Words ELLE SIXSMITH
LIFE
ACCORDING
TO LIYA
From Gucci girl to women’s health advocate, Ethiopian model Liya
Kebede is on a mission to empower mothers. As well as simple beauty
mantras, here she discusses meditation, patience and intuition1.
FIND YOUR
SIGNATURE
“I’ve loved Calvin Klein
Eternity, £69, all my life.
It reminds me of high
school. To experience
the same smell in a
different phase of your
life is quite special.”5.
OIL’S WELL
“My hair requires
a lot of moisture so
I’m all about oils.
I use L’Oréal Elvive
Extraordinary
Oil, £9.99, before my
shampoo, and then
reapply it on wet hair
to lock in hydration.”4.
EMPOWER
WOMEN
“Over the last couple
of years I have merged
the foundation with my
clothing brand Lemlem.
The goal is to employ
artisans to preserve the
art of weaving, as well
as working with maternal
health issues. We’re
trying to bring more
women into the craft and
give them training so they
can become independent
and self-sufficient.”3.
TREAT YOURSELF
“I like binging on
Netflix and taking a
relaxing bath at the
end of a long day.”2.
BE MINDFUL
“I try to meditate every
morning. I’m currently
trying to fit in an exercise
regime, which is quite
new for me. When I’m in
New York, I do a bit of
jogging, yoga and ballet
barre, which I love.”