Ethiopian model turned actress Liya Kebede has joined the roster of Runway beauties that feel the need to also command the attention of the big screen. She has managed to achieve this with much success. The 33-year-old beauty who already has a very impressive resume including being the first black model to sign a contract with a major international cosmetics company (Estee Lauder), is the star of “Desert Flower”, a film directed by Sherry Horman.
Kebede portrays real life Somalian model Waris Dirie, who became a top model in the late eighties after landing the cover of Pirelli Calendar in 1987, thanks to photographer Terence Donovan. Despite all the fame and glamour, Dirie’s difficult past always haunted her. The film gives us a true picture of the horrors of female circumcision and forced early marriage. Dirie endured both events, at an astonishingly early age. Circumcised at 3 and sold into marriage at 13. This is the story of determination and triumph and being able to overcome extraordinary circumstances by coming out on top.
The theme of the film may be heavy but Kebede insists that the story is quite inspiring and will leave you with need to examine your life and confront those issues that have always held you back.
“Desert Flower” premiered last Friday at the Angelika Film Center in New York and in LA. It’s definitely worth the ticket!
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