What Happened to Waris Dirie?

Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist Waris Dirie grew up in a traditional Somali household and experienced the challenges and cultural practices common in her community, including female genital mutilation (FGM).

Wari was just five years old when she was subjected to infibulation mutilation. She travelled through the desert to Mogadishu at the age of thirteen to avoid an arranged marriage to a 60-year-old man.

After fleeing Somalia to escape an arranged marriage, Dirie eventually settled in London, where she was discovered by photographer Mike Goss. She embarked on a successful modeling career and became a prominent figure in the fashion industry during the 1980s and 1990s, working with renowned designers and appearing on numerous magazine covers.

Dirie’s personal experience of undergoing FGM as a young girl led her to become a vocal advocate against the practice. In 1997, she became a UN Special Ambassador for the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation. She has since dedicated her life to raising awareness about FGM, working to eradicate the practice and support its survivors.

Dirie has authored several books, including her autobiography “Desert Flower” (1998), which recounts her life story and her campaign against FGM. The book became an international bestseller and was later adapted into a film.