Liya Kebede: From the Runway to the Red Carpet

Remember when models acting was just a big ole, hearty, malicious laugh Hollywood had in the nineties? Well, who's laughing now, Billy Baldwin?

Liya Kebede is acting her bony, flawless face off in Desert Flower and I am filled with questions and awe. Who knew? Where was I? What will she wear to the Oscars? And will they strip Halle Berry/Gwyneth Paltrow/Julia Roberts of her trophy to make way for someone more deserving?

I can't wait to see this and cry whatever tears that haven't been drained by a movie based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire.

In The News Akimbo // Vogue Cover

The May 2009 cover of American Vogue has a lineup of "The Faces Of The Moment." Love the return of models, all smiling with their eyes. If I see Sienna Miller or Renee Zellweger in this rag again I'll scream. Anyway, here is the main front followed by a shot of the other girls on the fold-out.

Very 60s, Bardot tossled hair here, and soft makeup to die for.

Surpises in the line-up include Lara Stone's presence and Chanel Iman's absence. It's very commercial pretty. I'm counting: 3 Brazilians, 2 Russians, one German, one Brit, one Pole and one Ethiopian. Nothing to write home about, but no American models for American Vogue?

In The News Akimbo // Liya Crew

Ethiopian model and American Vogue regular Liya Kebede signed a deal with J. Crew as the catalog's first exclusive girl, according to Fashion Week Daily, and she will also design a line of kid's clothes for the adorable J. Crew line Crew Cuts. Here is our size 2 diva working it on the catalog cover.

The millions of dollars needed to secure Liya as a recognizable face shows how well J. Crew must be doing despite today's economic woes. And good for them for keeping it classy: J. Crew has long featured hot new girls in their book, but Liya is the coolest high fashion girl they've used in years. Next we'll be seeing her on Clairol boxes at Duane Reade. All this makes me want to invest in some baggy wide length jeans!

Liya Kebede WORK // Lanvin Peek!

Girl you have been the tallest, skinniest, most elegant thing on the catwalk for almost 10 years now and it's like, where are the campaigns? Where are the studio editorials shot by Demarchelier? Lord and Taylor and Estee Lauder are too commercial for those proportions. Plus you make Zimmerman look like a tranny.