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
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
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
Take good care of your skin and hydrate. If you have good skin, everything else will fall into place. – Liya Kebede
What I love most about Mother’s Day is that I am acknowledged and honored for being a mother. – Liya Kebede
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
I always loved having the chance to disappear in a story. I always was kind of obsessed with that. – Liya Kebede
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
The desert loves me. I love the desert. It’s nice to be in the heat in Africa. I love it. – Liya Kebede
We should work to guarantee that there is a midwife or health worker by every woman’s side during childbirth. – Liya Kebede
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
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
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
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
Children with healthy mothers are much more likely to survive childhood, attend school and live healthy, productive lives. – Liya Kebede
Miriam Were has made outstanding contributions to public health in the developing world. She brings basic medical services to women and children in East Africa. – Liya Kebede
No other health disparity is so stark; virtually every woman who dies giving birth lives in a poor country. – Liya Kebede
A small gold plain cross was passed down from my grandma to my mom, then to me, and now to my daughter. It is always nice to own something that connects you to the women who made it possible for you to exist. – Liya Kebede
Prenatal care is one of the most effective ways to reduce maternal mortality because it identifies complications or high risks before emergency situations. – Liya Kebede
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
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
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
I never thought modeling would become my career. I thought it was something I’d do to pay my way through college. – Liya Kebede
If nothing else, I want women to understand that they are powerful. If you look back at history, in almost every big moment, in every leap forward, you find ordinary women at the core. We have more ability to make changes in the world than we can imagine if we have the courage to try. – Liya Kebede
