Waris Dirie

Desert Flower by Waris Dirie is an extraordinary autobiography that recounts the life of a woman whose name means "desert flower." Waris was born in Somalia to nomadic parents and faced a challenging childhood. She underwent extreme female circumcision at the age of five, a traumatic experience that shaped her life. At just 13 years old, her father sold her...

Fashion model, UN ambassador, and courageous spirit, Waris Dirie is a remarkable woman, born into a traditional family of tribal desert nomads in Somalia. She told her story—enduring, at five years old, the ancient and savage custom of female circumcision; running away at twelve, on foot through the desert, in order to escape an arranged marriage; being discovered by Terence...