Liya Kebede could rest on her beautiful laurels, but she chooses to make a difference. She's graced countless Vogue covers, was the first model of color to sign a deal with Estee Lauder and has been ranked by Forbes as one of the highest paid models. But what Kebede really focuses on is her charitable work.

When she learned weave makers in her native Ethiopia were being put out of work due to lack of demand, the statuesque beauty mixed her love of fashion and philanthropy to create a clothing line. Lemlem, which means to flourish or bloom in Amharic, employs local artists to create modern pieces with a traditional feel. "I launched Lemlem to preserve this art form and support sustainable business in Ethiopia," Kebede told Black Voices.

The three-year-old line originally just included children's clothing but the Spring/Summer collection now features womenswear, including tunics, dresses and handbags. The expansion of Lemlem doesn't just mean more options for fashionistas, but success for Kebede's home country.

"As the brand grows, we employ more and more people in Ethiopia which is at the core of what Lemlem is about," she said. "We hope that our weavers will be able to build better lives for themselves and their children."

Kebede's charitable work isn't just limited to her clothing line. The Goodwill Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health created her eponymous foundation to ensure women across the world have access to proper medical care. The mother of two sees the issue quite simply: Women are dying and action must be taken.

"I founded the Liya Kebede Foundation because every minute a woman dies in child birth," she said. "Mostly from preventable causes. Ten million more suffer devastating illnesses and complications. To me, that is unacceptable."

Her foundation helps build maternal clinics and educate policy makers. Kebede said doesn't just see this as a woman's issue but as a cause we should all be fighting for.

"It's been proven that when you invest in mother's lives, you create healthier families, more economic growth and more stable societies," she asserted.

So it's no wonder the model mom was just named one of Time's 100 most influential people. The list, which Time defines as "the people who most affect our world," includes notables such as Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey. Though an amazing honor, Kebede sees the accolade as motivation to continue her charitable work.

"Being honored amongst 99 other incredible people is truly a humbling experience," she said. "It motivates me to continue bringing awareness to investing in the welfare of mothers and children around the world. I hope this honor will open the door to many other opportunities."

For more on Lemlem, visit www.lemlem.com.

To learn more about the Liya Kebede Foundation, visit www.theliyakebedefoundation.org.