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DESERT FLOWER

Waris Dirie

Waris Dirie (the name means desert flower) lives a double life - by day she is a famous model and UN spokeswoman on women’s rights in Africa, at night she dreams of her native Somalia. Waris, one of 12 children, was born into a traditional family of desert nomads in East Africa. She remembers her early childhood as carefree- racing camels and moving on with her family to the next grazing spot - until it came her turn to meet the old woman who administered the ancient custom imposed on most Somalian girls: circumcision. Waris suffered this torture when she was just five years old. Then, aged 12, when her father attempted to arrange a marriage with a 60 year old stranger in exchange for five camels - she took flight. After an extraordinary escape through the dangerous desert she made her way to London and worked as a maid for the Somalian ambassador until that family returned home. Penniless and speaking little English, she became a janitor in McDonalds where she was famously discovered by a fashion photographer. Her story is a truly inspirational and extraordinary self-portrait of a remarkable woman whose spirit is as breathtaking as her beauty.

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  • Classification : Biography & Memoir
  • Pub Date : JAN 18, 2001
  • Imprint : Virago
  • Page Extent : 256
  • Binding : PB
  • ISBN : 9781860497582
  • Price : INR 699
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Waris Dirie

Waris Dirie is an internationally renowned model and was the face of Revlon skin-care products. In 1997 she was appointed by the UN as special ambassador against FGM. She lives in Vienna with her son.

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