How was Waris Dirie Discovered?

Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist Waris Dirie was discovered by chance while living in London. The story goes that  photographer Mike Goss, happened to see her in a London street market.

Following that, he assisted her in putting together a portfolio and obtaining representation, despite the fact that several modelling agencies declared there was “no call for black models.” Terence Donovan, who photographed her in 1987 alongside the then-unknown model Naomi Campbell for the Pirelli Calendar, was one of her first modelling gigs.

Waris Dirie’s modelling career took off from there, and she soon became a successful model, appearing in campaigns for big brands like Chanel, Levi’s, L’Oréal, and Revlon.

While working as a model, Dirie used her platform to raise awareness about FGM, a practice that she herself had undergone as a young girl. She courageously spoke out about her personal experience and became a prominent advocate against the harmful tradition.

In addition to her activism, Dirie has authored several books, including her memoir “Desert Flower” (1998), which chronicles her life story and the struggles she faced. The book became an international bestseller and was later adapted into a feature film titled “Desert Flower” (2009).