Liya Kebede Quotes

Powerful Liya Kebede for Daily Growth

About Liya Kebede

**Liya Kebede**, born on March 1, 1970, in Ethiopia, is a celebrated model, actress, and philanthropist who has made significant contributions to both the fashion industry and global health initiatives. Raised in Addis Ababa, Liya's passion for modeling ignited at an early age when she won a national beauty contest at 15. This propelled her to embark on an international modeling career that saw her walk runways for designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Valentino, and Ralph Lauren. She was the first black African woman to appear on the cover of American Vogue in more than a decade. In addition to her successful modeling career, Liya ventured into acting, making her film debut in 2007's "Dreamgirls." Her notable roles include "The Good Shepherd" (2006) and "Africa United" (2010). However, it is her philanthropic work that truly sets Liya apart. In 2003, she founded the Liya Kebede Foundation, which focuses on maternal health in Ethiopia. She serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the World Health Organization and UNICEF, using her influence to raise awareness about malaria prevention and treatment. Liya's life and work are greatly influenced by her Ethiopian roots and her commitment to giving back to her community. Her resilience, grace, and dedication have made her a powerful voice in the fight against global health issues while also making significant strides in the fashion industry.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I believe that education is a powerful tool for change."

This quote by Liya Kebede highlights the belief that education plays a critical role in promoting positive change in individuals, communities, and societies at large. By equipping people with knowledge, skills, and critical thinking abilities, we enable them to question, innovate, and work towards solutions for the challenges they face. In essence, a well-educated population is more likely to contribute to sustainable development, social justice, and overall progress.


"Fashion can be a vehicle for change and empowerment."

The quote emphasizes that fashion can serve as a tool to bring about transformation and empower individuals, particularly women. By leveraging its influence on cultural trends and societal norms, the fashion industry has the potential to promote positive changes such as gender equality, inclusivity, and sustainability. This perspective highlights the power of fashion as not just an art form or commercial endeavor, but also as a platform for social impact and change-making.


"As a model, I feel it's important to use my visibility to make a difference in the world."

This quote suggests that Liya Kebede, as a public figure with a broad reach due to her profession as a model, recognizes the power and influence that comes with visibility. She sees it as her responsibility to leverage this position for positive change and impact the world in a meaningful way. Essentially, she is expressing the value of using one's platform, whether personal or professional, to make a difference in society.


"I want to show African women they are strong, beautiful, and capable."

This quote by Liya Kebede highlights her mission to empower African women, demonstrating that they possess innate strength, beauty, and capability. By amplifying these qualities, she aims to challenge stereotypes and promote self-confidence among African women, reminding them of their worth and potential to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.


"We need to invest in the health and education of girls so they can reach their full potential."

This quote emphasizes the importance of investing resources into the health and education of young women, empowering them to maximize their individual potential. By providing access to essential healthcare services and quality educational opportunities, we enable them to overcome barriers, break cycles of poverty, and contribute significantly to societal development as future leaders and change-makers.


The most inspiring piece of advice I've gotten is simply to persevere. My mom taught me to always keep going no matter what from an early age. When it feels too difficult to push forward, I always remind myself, 'This too shall pass,' and then I redouble my efforts.

- Liya Kebede

Persevere, Feels, Gotten, Age

Midwives and doctors play a crucial role preventing unnecessary maternal deaths. They educate women about nutrition, health and family planning. And they step in when complications arise.

- Liya Kebede

Play, Role, Preventing, Family Planning

Traveling around Ethiopia, I saw dozens of abandoned textile factories. People kept asking me to help them find work. So I thought I could make use of my experience in fashion to commercialize their products outside of Ethiopia.

- Liya Kebede

Thought, Asking, Dozens, Textile

First I became U.N. Goodwill Ambassador for WHO, and that was in 2005. And then, about a year or so later, I decided to start my foundation.

- Liya Kebede

Year, Goodwill, Became, Ambassador

We should work to guarantee that there is a midwife or health worker by every woman's side during childbirth.

- Liya Kebede

Work, Woman, Side, Midwife

I'm a mom. I'm from Ethiopia. I gave birth in the U.S. and had all the proper care available to me. If I had given birth in Ethiopia - I don't know if I might have even survived it.

- Liya Kebede

Might, Available, Given, Ethiopia

I actually started modeling in Ethiopia, because that's where I grew up, and I started out by just doing little fashion shows for school, and I liked it so much that I started pursuing it.

- Liya Kebede

Doing, Modeling, Pursuing, Ethiopia

I'm Christian. Growing up in Ethiopia, it's half-Christian and half-Muslim. You grow up with Muslim kids. I'm very much aware of their religion.

- Liya Kebede

Grow, Muslim, Very, Ethiopia

It's not just Ethiopia, but Africa in general - most of the media concentrates on what's not going well. But there is so much beauty there. When you go, it changes everything. It changes you, your life, and the way you see things. The challenge is changing the image of Africa that's been anchored in people for years now.

- Liya Kebede

Beauty, Changes, Been, Ethiopia

I can contribute, be valuable, and grow in many ways, since my interests are so varied. That is very satisfying.

- Liya Kebede

Grow, Very, Contribute, Satisfying

When I see Lemlem walking around New York City, it's just mind-boggling, because I know it came from this one man sitting and weaving this little product.

- Liya Kebede

City, New York City, I See, Weaving

Children with healthy mothers are much more likely to survive childhood, attend school and live healthy, productive lives.

- Liya Kebede

Childhood, Survive, Likely, To Survive

In a hundred years, how do you want the world to be? Everybody should get together to make the world a better place.

- Liya Kebede

Everybody, Hundred, Hundred Years

In 1967, the world health community launched a global effort to eradicate smallpox. It took a coordinated, worldwide effort, required the commitment of every government, and cost $130 million dollars. By 1977, smallpox had disappeared.

- Liya Kebede

Health, Cost, Took, Million Dollars

When our mothers are alive and healthy, they do extraordinary things... like the mothers of Plaza de Mayo, who marched in Argentinean plazas, defying the military junta dictatorship and demanding the whereabouts of their abducted children... or the Liberian mothers who faced down civil war armed only with T-shirts and courage.

- Liya Kebede

Down, Alive, Our, Dictatorship

Helping others isn't a chore; it is one of the greatest gifts there is.

- Liya Kebede

Helping, Greatest Gifts, Chore

It's one thing to donate money. It's a whole other thing to give an opportunity for someone to make his own money.

- Liya Kebede

Give, Own, Other, Donate

I think, first of all, every time you want to play somebody who is real is always challenging and always scary, because you are given a responsibility of someone's real life.

- Liya Kebede

Play, I Think, Challenging, Every Time

For my diet, I choose mostly organic. But in general, I am a big believer in trying to strike a balance with everything.

- Liya Kebede

Big, Strike, Mostly, Organic

Take good care of your skin and hydrate. If you have good skin, everything else will fall into place.

- Liya Kebede

Skin, Will, Your, Everything Else

President Obama has made maternal health one of the core priorities of U.S. international aid funding.

- Liya Kebede

Made, Funding, Obama, International

Investing in women's lives is an investment in sustainable development, in human rights, in future generations - and consequently in our own long-term national interests.

- Liya Kebede

Development, Lives, Investing

For my wardrobe, I like to invest in classic pieces and pair them with more trendy new pieces and accessories each season.

- Liya Kebede

New, More, Like, Season

It's very difficult to hand someone your whole life story to play, and you've never really met that person.

- Liya Kebede

Play, Difficult, Very, Life Story

It is important for me that I represent a brand that reflects my personality.

- Liya Kebede

Personality, Me, Important, Reflects

Doing designs on a loom takes a lot of talent and experience, and, trust me, I won't be able to do that.

- Liya Kebede

Trust, Experience, Doing, Loom

I tend to gravitate toward Proenza Schouler and Alexander Wang. Their designs are accessible and easy.

- Liya Kebede

Easy, Accessible, Gravitate, Designs

I want to spend as much time as possible with my children, so I always like to keep my beauty and fashion routines effortless... but still chic!

- Liya Kebede

Always, Effortless, Still, Routines

No other health disparity is so stark; virtually every woman who dies giving birth lives in a poor country.

- Liya Kebede

Woman, Country, Other, Disparity

There are things that I will always shoot, but now that the modeling and acting worlds are becoming very close, you can do a little bit of one and more of the other.

- Liya Kebede

Always, Other, Very, Shoot

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.