Waris Dirie

Waris Dirie, born on October twenty-first, nineteen sixty-five, in Somalia, is a renowned model, author, and humanitarian. She began her modeling career in London, where she gained prominence by working with prestigious brands such as Chanel, Levi's, L'Oréal, and Revlon. Notably, she became the first black woman to feature in an Oil of Olay advertisement, breaking barriers in the fashion industry.

In nineteen eighty-seven, Dirie made her acting debut with a minor role in the James Bond film, The Living Daylights. However, it was in nineteen ninety-seven that she courageously spoke out about her experience with female genital mutilation (FGM) in an interview with Marie Claire. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her advocacy against FGM, leading to her appointment as a UN special ambassador on the issue from nineteen ninety-seven to two thousand three.

In two thousand two, she established the Desert Flower Foundation in Vienna, dedicated to eradicating FGM worldwide. Her efforts have garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in two thousand seven. Dirie has also authored several impactful works, with her autobiography, Desert Flower, published in nineteen ninety-eight, becoming an international bestseller, selling over eleven million copies and inspiring the film adaptation in two thousand nine.

Beyond her literary contributions, Dirie founded the Desert Dawn Foundation, which focuses on raising funds for schools and clinics in her native Somalia. Through her relentless advocacy, she has created a significant platform for raising awareness about FGM, encompassing various foundations, campaigns, books, and documentaries.