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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Desert Flower 9781860497582 Paperback
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- Year Published:
- 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United Kingdom
- Format:
- Paperback
- ISBN:
- 9781860497582
- Number of Pages:
- 256
- Place of Publication:
- London
- Publication Date:
- 18/01/2001
- Publisher:
- Little, Brown Book Group
- Authors:
- Dirie, Waris
- Illustrations Note:
- Section: 8, B&W
- Publication Date:
- 18/01/2001
- Language:
- English
- SKU:
- 9781860497582