Liya Kebede: Supermodel, Nonprofit Role Model
by MELISSA JUN ROWLEY, Contributing Writer
Whoever said beauty is only skin deep hasn’t met supermodel, actress, and World Health Organization (WHO) ambassador Liya Kebede. When she’s not gracing the cover of Vogue or lending her face to Estee Lauder’s cosmetics campaign, the international beauty is leading the crusade for women’s health. Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the 27-year-old mother of two founded The Liya Kebede Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing medical care for pregnant women, new mothers, and children in Africa.
Kebede has said it is "so normal" to learn of women dying during childbirth in Ethiopia. The humanitarian told NBC News that one woman dies every minute around the glove in childbirth. Honoring Women’s Health Week, Kebede made a May 12th appearance on The Today Show, during which she said she was surprised that pregnancy does not often lead to death in the United States.
"You have your prenatal care, your postnatal care, and when you’re delivering you have the greatest medical care you could possibly wish for, " said Kebede. "If you were to deliver in Ethiopia, the minute you’re pregnant you are already thinking…’Am I going to die giving birth?"
To help save lives during and after childbearing, The Liya Kebede Foundation endorses the use of inexpensive technology, available medical services, and proper education for health care workers.
Kebede’s efforts to help the people of her country don’t stop there. She also has a handwoven women and children’s clothing line called Lemlem, which is made in Ethiopia. The supermodel/role model uses this business to help support the Ethiopian economy.
Image by Christopher Peterson, flickr
- Posted by Causecast
Related causes: Health
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