40 Facts About Waris Dirie

Waris Dirie is a Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist in the fight against female genital mutilation.

Waris Dirie has won numerous awards recognizing her work on eradicating FGM, including the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur.

Waris Dirie was a model for top brands such as Chanel, Levi's, L'Oreal and Revlon.

In 1987, Waris Dirie played a minor role in the James Bond film The Living Daylights.

In 1997, at the height of her modeling career, Waris Dirie spoke publicly for the first time with the women's magazine Marie Claire about the FGM that she had undergone as a child, and would become a UN special ambassador against FGM that same year.

Waris Dirie has created a platform for raising awareness about FGM that includes numerous foundations, campaigns, books, and documentaries.

Waris Dirie's first book, Desert Flower, is an autobiography that went on to become an international bestseller, selling over 11 million copies worldwide, and inspired the film Desert Flower.

Waris Dirie created two foundations: Desert Flower Foundation, an organisation whose goal is to eradicate female genital mutilation worldwide, and the Desert Dawn Foundation, which raises money for schools and clinics in her native Somalia.

Waris Dirie was born as one of twelve children into a nomadic family in 1965 in the area of Galkayo.

Waris Dirie described herself fainting and having an out-of-body experience.

Waris Dirie first stayed there with relatives, although her escape was not tolerated.

Waris Dirie earned her living as a cleaner in a local McDonald's.

Aged 18, Waris Dirie was by chance discovered by photographer Mike Goss, as she stood waiting for her charge outside of his daughter's school.

Waris Dirie has described the catwalk as her favorite part of modeling, but she has a lesser opinion of the casting process, which she described as "mostly about disappointment".

In 1987, Waris Dirie played a minor role in the James Bond film The Living Daylights.

Waris Dirie appeared on the runways of London, Milan, Paris and New York City, and in fashion magazines such as Elle, Glamour and Vogue.

Waris Dirie eventually saw a doctor to have her vulva reopened.

In 1997, at the height of her modeling career, Waris Dirie spoke for the first time with Laura Ziv of the women's magazine Marie Claire about the FGM that she had undergone as a child, at the age of five along with her two sisters.

That same year, Waris Dirie became a UN envoy for the abolition of FGM.

Waris Dirie later paid her mother a visit in her native Somalia.

Waris Dirie instructed her mother to intervene if anyone she knew were to undergo FGM, and her mother eventually asked for her forgiveness for subjecting her to the treatment.

In 1998, Waris Dirie coauthored her first book along with nonfiction author Cathleen Miller: Desert Flower, an autobiography that went on to become an international bestseller.

Waris Dirie later released other successful books including Desert Dawn, Letter to My Mother and Desert Children, the latter of which was launched in tandem with a European campaign against FGM.

Waris Dirie published her second autobiography, Desert Dawn, in 2002, four years after her first.

Waris Dirie spoke for the first time on an Arab channel in front of over 100 million viewers about the taboo topic "Female Genital Mutilation".

In 2010, Waris Dirie was appointed Ambassador of Peace and Security in Africa by the African Union.

Waris Dirie has campaigned extensively to draw attention to female genital mutilation.

In 2002 Waris Dirie founded the Desert Flower Foundation in Vienna, an organisation whose goal is to eradicate female genital mutilation worldwide.

Waris Dirie started the Desert Dawn Foundation, which raises money for schools and clinics in her native Somalia, and supports the Zeitz Foundation, an organization focused on sustainable development and conservation.

In January 2009 Waris Dirie became a founding member of the PPR Foundation for Women's Dignity and Rights, an organization of French tycoon Francois-Henri Pinault and his wife, Hollywood actress Salma Hayek.

Waris Dirie posed for the company's collection and was staged by photographer Rankin Rankin produced the campaign's short film.

For Waris Dirie the photo shoot with Rankin in London was a comeback as a model.

Waris Dirie has received many prizes and awards for her humanitarian work and books including:.

Contrary to popular belief, Waris Dirie is not related to fellow Somali model Iman.

Waris Dirie is the mother of two sons, Aleeke and Leon.

In March 2004, Waris Dirie was attacked in her home in Vienna.

Waris Dirie apparently suffered minor injuries when her assailant threw her to the floor.

Waris Dirie was arrested when neighbours called the police and was later given a five-month suspension.

Waris Dirie later broke into that home and stole items of her clothing.

On 7 March 2019, in the presence of Waris Dirie, it was announced at a press conference at a theatre St Gallen, Switzerland that her extraordinary life story would become a musical.