Supermodel Liya Kebede

Ethiopian model Liya Kebede is one of the highest-profile black models of the past decade.



Her big break came when she was asked for an exclusive contract for a Gucci fashion show. After several other modeling jobs, Kebede was named the newest face of Estée Lauder cosmetics in 2006, the first person of color to serve as that company's spokesmodel ever. The picture above is from the Lauder campaign.

In 2005, Liya Kebede was appointed as the World Health Organization's Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

Model Patti Hansen

I promised an individual photo of supermodel Patti Hansen long ago, so here it is.



Patti Hansen was all over fashion ads and magazines in the 1970s and early 1980s. Originally from the Tottenville section of Staten Island - the southernmost point of New York City - she's now married to Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones.

I don't get it, either.

Tottenville? :-D ;-)

Actress America Ferrara

On this Fourth of July, you gotta love America. :-)



America Ferrera is an actress making plenty of headlines these days. After her movie breakthrough in Real Women Have Curves and her role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, she now has the title role in the hit TV series called - ironically enough - "Ugly Betty." :-D :-O

Actress Laura Dern

The daughter of actors Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd, Laura Dern has long since made it as an actress in her own right.



She broke out in David Lynch's controversial 1986 film Blue Velvet, and shes's since appeared in everything from small films like Rambling Rose (which also featured her mother) and Citizen Ruth to blockbusters like Jurassic Park.

Though a beautiful woman, Dern had to make herself look ugly for her most recent role - that of former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris in the HBO movie about the Bush/Gore election, Recount. :-p