Betty
Mahmoody

Waris Dirie was a young girl born into a family of nomadic herders in the desolate deserts of Somalia. Her early life was one of hardship, poverty, and hunger. At the tender age of five, she underwent the brutal and traumatic practice of female genital mutilation (FGM). This horrific experience left her with physical and emotional scars that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Despite the struggles she faced, Waris refused to give up on her dreams. She longed for a better life, one where she could be free from the oppression of her culture and the pain of her past. When she was thirteen, her parents arranged for her to marry an older man in exchange for a few camels. Faced with the prospect of a life of servitude, Waris made the bold decision to run away.

She embarked on a perilous journey across the desert, walking for weeks with no food or water. She faced danger at every turn, from predatory animals to ruthless bandits. But Waris refused to give up. She knew that her only hope for a better life was to keep moving forward.

Eventually, Waris made it to the bustling city of Mogadishu, where she was taken in by a kind family. It was there that she discovered the world of fashion, and her life changed forever. She was discovered by a photographer, and soon she was traveling the world, gracing the pages of magazines and walking the runways of Paris and Milan.

Through it all, Waris never forgot where she came from. She used her platform to speak out against FGM, becoming an outspoken advocate for women's rights. She even went on to establish her own foundation, the Waris Dirie Foundation, dedicated to ending the practice of FGM and helping women and girls around the world.

Waris Dirie's story is one of incredible courage, resilience, and determination. Despite facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles, she refused to be held back by her circumstances. Her journey from a young girl in the desert to a successful model and activist is a testament to the power of the human spirit and the strength of the human will.