Waris Dirie
Waris Dirie (Somali: Waris Diiriye; born 21 October 1965) is a Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM). From 1997 to 2003, she was a UN special ambassador against FGM. In 2002 she founded her own organization in Vienna, the Desert Flower Foundation. She has won numerous awards recognizing her work on eradicating FGM, including the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (2007).
Waris Dirie

Desert Flower Foundation · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1965. · Galkayo.
- Nationality
- Somalia and Austria.
- Occupation
- model, novelist, writer, autobiographer, women's rights activist, actress and goodwill ambassador.
- Fields
- model, human rights, literary activity and modelling.
- Known for
- Desert Flower.
- Honours
- Legion of Honour and German Africa Prize.
- Languages
- English and German.
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Waris Dirie (Somali: Waris Diiriye; born 21 October 1965) is a Somali model, author, actress and human rights activist in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM). From 1997 to 2003, she was a UN special ambassador against FGM. In 2002 she founded her own organization in Vienna, the Desert Flower Foundation. She has won numerous awards recognizing her work on eradicating FGM, including the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (2007).
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Waris Dirie (born 1965) is an actress, autobiographer and goodwill ambassador, among other activities, a national of Austria and Somalia. The actress was born in Galkayo.
Waris Dirie worked for United Nations and held the position of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. The actress lived in Gdańsk. Activity centred on human rights, literary activity and model.
Among the works is Desert Flower. Languages used include English and German. Honours include German Africa Prize and Legion of Honour.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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wikidata · Q78644 · wikipedia · Waris Dirie
In this article
Early life
Early life
She was a model for top brands such as Chanel, Levi's, L'Oréal and Revlon. In 1987, Dirie played a minor role in the James Bond film The Living Daylights. In 1997, at the height of her modeling career, Dirie spoke publicly for the first time with the women's magazine Marie Claire about the FGM that she had undergone as a child, and would become a UN special ambassador against FGM that same year. She has created a platform for raising awareness about FGM that includes numerous foundations, campaigns, books, and documentaries. Her first book, Desert Flower (1998), is an autobiography that went on to become an international bestseller, selling over 11 million copies worldwide, and inspired the film Desert Flower (2009). She created two foundations: Desert Flower Foundation, an organisation whose goal is to eradicate female genital mutilation worldwide, and the Desert Dawn Foundation, which raises money for schools and clinics in her native Somalia.
The recorded working language is English and German. The field of work recorded is model, human rights and literary activity. Residence is recorded at Gdańsk. Employment is recorded with United Nations. Positions recorded include UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. Works named in the authority record are Desert Flower. Distinctions recorded are Legion of Honour and German Africa Prize.
Dirie was born as one of twelve children into a nomadic family in 1965 in the area of Galkayo. Her first name, Waris, means desert flower. In her autobiography, Dirie explained how as a four-year-old, she was raped by her cousin. After the rape took place, Dirie underwent an infibulation procedure to remove her labia and suture her vulva, following cultural ideals of purity and shame (ebwaye). Describing the procedure, Dirie said that she was blindfolded but allowed to experience the procedure with her other senses: "It's like somebody is slicing through the meat of your thigh, or cutting off your arm, except this is the most sensitive part of your body". She also described herself fainting and having an out-of-body experience. At the age of thirteen, she fled through the desert to Mogadishu in order to escape an arranged marriage to a 60-year-old man. She first stayed there with relatives, although her escape was not tolerated. One of her uncles, who was then the Somali ambassador to the United Kingdom, was looking for a maid. With the help of her aunt, she convinced her uncle to hire her and take her to London, where she worked at her uncle's house for little pay. After her uncle's four-year term, Dirie left and lived in a number of unstable housing arrangements, later renting a room in a YMCA. She earned her living as a cleaner in a local McDonald's. She also began evening classes to learn English.
Modeling success
Modeling success
Aged 18, Dirie was by chance discovered by photographer Mike Goss, as she stood waiting for her charge outside of his daughter's school. Through getting the children to translate for them, Goss persuaded Dirie to model for him. Afterwards, he helped her get a portfolio together and get her representation, although a lot of modelling agencies claimed there was 'no call for black models'. One of her first modelling jobs was for Terence Donovan, who photographed her in 1987 together with the then still unknown model Naomi Campbell for the title of the Pirelli Calendar. From there, Dirie's modeling career took off, she soon became a successful model, appearing in advertisements for top brands such as Chanel, Levi's, L'Oréal and Revlon. As a model, Dirie was the first black woman to appear in an Oil of Olay advertisement. She has described the catwalk as her favorite part of modeling, but she has a lesser opinion of the casting process, which she described as "mostly about disappointment". Because of her previous nomadic lifestyle, coupled with the poor nutrition she had at the time, she developed bowed legs. By the time she considered surgery to have them fixed, her bones had set and surgery was not an option. Over time, she incorporated her legs into her identity, coming to see them as an identifier of her nomadic history and of her African heritage. In 1987, Dirie played a minor role in the James Bond film The Living Daylights. She also appeared on the runways of London, Milan, Paris and New York City, and in fashion magazines such as Elle, Glamour and Vogue. This was followed in 1995 by a BBC documentary entitled A Nomad in New York about her modeling career.
FGM activism and authorship
Humanitarian work and campaigns
Humanitarian work and campaigns
Dirie has campaigned extensively to draw attention to female genital mutilation. In 2002 Dirie founded the Desert Flower Foundation in Vienna, an organisation whose goal is to eradicate female genital mutilation worldwide. The Foundation's work is financed by donations. She also started the Desert Dawn Foundation, which raises money for schools and clinics in her native Somalia, and supports the Zeitz Foundation, an organization focused on sustainable development and conservation. In January 2009 Dirie became a founding member of the PPR Foundation for Women’s Dignity and Rights, an organization of French tycoon François-Henri Pinault (CEO of PPR) and his wife, Hollywood actress Salma Hayek. In 2010, she campaigned with "Stop FGM Now" in collaboration with the Berlin agency Heymann Brandt de Gelmini. This initiative was awarded the prize for "Best NGO Social Media Campaign" by the German Federal Government. "Together for African Women" followed in 2011, a collaboration with the Hamburg agency Jung von Matt and the laundry label Mey. After the rescue of Desert Flower Safa from FGM in 2014, the sponsorship programme "Save A Little Desert Flower" was launched. In March 2019 came the much-acclaimed campaign "End FGM" with the British lingerie label Coco de Mer. Dirie posed for the company's collection (as the successor to Pamela Anderson) and was staged by photographer Rankin Rankin also produced the campaign's short film. The initiative was awarded the if Social Impact Prize 2019 by the iF International Forum Design headquartered in Hanover and was supported with prize money. For Dirie the photo shoot with Rankin in London was a comeback as a model.
Desert Flower Centers
Desert Flower Centers
There are a number of Desert Flower centers throughout Europe: On 11 September 2013, Dirie as patron opened the world's first holistic medical center for the treatment and care of FGM victims in Berlin together with the Waldfriede Hospital as a cooperation hospital of the Desert Flower Foundation. The Desert Flower Center was awarded the Louise Schroeder Medal by the State of Berlin in 2016. In 2014, the Desert Flower Surgical Training Center for surgeons, gynaecologists, urologists and nursing staff was established in Amsterdam together with the Desert Flower Foundation BENELUX. The Desert Flower Center Scandinavia was established in 2015 in cooperation with the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm. In 2017 the Centre Fleur du Desert opened with the Fondation Fleur du Desert in the women's shelter at the Hôpital Delafontaine in Paris Saint-Denis. The Centre Fleur du Desert was visited by French President Emmanuel Macron in December 2017.
Education projects in Sierra Leone
Education projects in Sierra Leone
In 2016 Dirie and the team of the Desert Flower Foundation decided to make the topic "Education in Africa" the focus of their work. Through the sponsorship project "Save A Little Desert Flower" 1,000 girls could be saved from FGM in Sierra Leone. The construction of the first three "Desert Flower schools" in Sierra Leone was announced in early 2019. Diries Desert Flower Foundation is also building a "Safe House", where FGM victims find refuge and protection. There is also a library and a computer centre. In addition, 10,000 copies of Waris Dirie's reading book "My Africa - The Journey" with Desert Flower educational boxes will be distributed to 34 schools in Sierra Leone.
Personal life
Personal life
Contrary to popular belief, Dirie is not related to fellow Somali model Iman. In her book Desert Flower, Dirie states that Iman's mother was good friends with her aunt, a relative with whom she once lived during her time in London. Since 2009 Dirie has lived in Gdańsk, Poland. She also lived temporarily in Vienna. She is the mother of two sons, Aleeke and Leon. Since March 2005, Dirie has held Austrian citizenship.
Attack and disappearance
Attack and disappearance
In March 2004, Dirie was attacked in her home in Vienna. A 26-year-old Portuguese man was held in custody after having apparently stalked her 1,000 miles across Europe, eventually gaining access to her apartment by climbing through a neighbour's window. "She was so frightened and in shock that she let him in," a police spokesman said. Dirie apparently suffered minor injuries when her assailant threw her to the floor. The attacker then left in a taxi, only to return later to smash one of the building's ground-floor windows. He was arrested when neighbours called the police and was later given a five-month suspension. It was reported that the suspect had met Dirie six months earlier when his brother was working at her previous residence in Wales. He later broke into that home and stole items of her clothing. In another incident in early March 2008, Dirie went missing for three days while staying in Brussels. She was found by a Brussels policeman.
Musical
Musical
On 7 March 2019, in the presence of Waris Dirie, it was announced at a press conference at a theatre St. Gallen, Switzerland that her extraordinary life story would become a musical. Written and directed by the German theater and film director Gil Mehmert (converted Sönke Wortmann's film "Das Wunder von Bern" into a musical, 2014). The lyrics are by Frank Ramond, with the music by Uwe Fahrenkrog-Petersen (wrote the music for "99 Luftballons" by Nena). On 22 February 2020 the musical was premiered at the theatre St. Gallen in the presence of Waris Dirie.

Waris Dirie in Bratislava (Poštová street), 2010.
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Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1965
Waris Dirie was born in 1965 at Galkayo.
2015
Saving Safa / Waris Dirie with Walter Lutschinger; translated by Ruth Martin. is dated [2015] and held by Wellcome Collection.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Gdańsk.
Residences
Galkayo.
Birth place
Books
Desert Flower (1998) with Cathleen Miller The book that describes Dirie's genital mutilation, her adventurous escape through the Somali desert and the rise to a world-famous supermodel, becomes an international bestseller and appears in over 50 licensed editions. Over 11 million copies have been sold worldwide to date, 3 million in Germany alone (number 1 on the Spiegel bestseller list from 11 to 17 January and from 25 January to 18 July 1999). Desert Dawn (2002) with Jeanne D’Haem 20 years after her escape, Dirie decides to visit her family in Somalia. A dangerous adventure, as Somalia has been plagued by civil war and famine for years. Her second book, which will also become an international bestseller (first place on the Spiegel bestseller list from 8 to 28 April and from 13 May to 23 June 2002), describes the trip to her home country. Desert Children (2005) With her third book Dirie starts a Europe-wide campaign against FGM. Genital mutilation is not only practiced in Africa, but also in the western world. It reports on encounters with victims and perpetrators, on their research, setbacks and successes. Letter to my mother (2007) Dirie says about this book on the website of the Desert Flower Foundation: "This is my most personal book. There are simply wounds that don't want to heal. My longing was great to meet my mother again, to forgive my mother, but I had to realize that love and suffering are often inextricably linked. Working on this book was a painful but vital experience for me." Schwarze Frau, weißes Land (2010) In this book Dirie talks about her life in her new, white homeland - and about her longing for Africa and her deep desire to help her home continent free itself from poverty, outdated traditions and dependence. Saving Safa (2013) Little Safa comes from a bitterly poor family in Djibouti. Raised in a slum, she is selected for the role of little Waris Dirie in the biopic of the world bestseller Desert Flower. The dramatic scene, in which the little girl is violently circumcised, makes people cry in cinemas all over the world. In real life, Safa is still intact. Dirie is all the more horrified when she hears that Safa's genital mutilation is imminent. And she does everything in her power to save the girl from this cruel practice. My Africa - The Journey (2017) Together with her Desert Flower Foundation team, Dirie publishes her first reading book for children at African schools. The book tells the story of the little "desert flower" Waris and her brother Mo, who go on a journey together to discover their home continent Africa. On their adventures they get to know the flora and fauna of Africa. In addition to the story, the book also contains numerous writing exercises, which are intended to promote the reading and writing skills of children.
Films
The Living Daylights (1987) - In the 15th James Bond film, Dirie plays Waris Walsh in a supporting role. A Nomad in New York (1995) - BBC documentary about the career of Waris Dirie. Desert Flower (2009) - drama based on her autobiographical novel and bestseller.
Awards
Dirie has received many prizes and awards for her humanitarian work and books including: Woman of the Year Award (1998) by Glamour magazine. Corine Award (2002) of the umbrella association of the German bookselling trade. Women's World Award (2004) from former President of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev. Bishop Óscar Romero Award (2005) by the Catholic Church. Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (2007) from former President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. Prix des Générations (2007) by the World Demographic Association. Martin Buber Gold Medal from the Euriade Foundation (2008), founded by Werner Janssen in 1981. Gold medal of the President of the Republic of Italy (2010) for her achievements as a human rights activist. Thomas Dehler Prize (2013) of the Thomas Dehler Foundation, presented by Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger Woman Of The Year Campaigning Award (2013) in London presented by Sacla International Freedom Prize (2014) presented at the House of Lords in London by British Minister Lynne Featherstone Women for Women Award (2017), awarded in Vienna by the magazine "look! Donna dell'Anno (2018) in Italy Million Chances Award (2018) donated by the Fritz Henkel Foundation Sunhak Peace Prize (2019) for her commitment to women's rights, awarded in Seoul.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Stellan Consult Limited. Desert Flower. Parents. 265–270. 76. 2008.
- 2.Stange, Mary Zeiss. Encyclopedia of Women in Today's World, Volume 1. SAGE. 402. 2011. 978-1412976855.
- 3.Wendlandt, Astrid. International Women's Day absurd says supermodel. Reuters. 8 March 2010.
- 4.My mother said 'forgive me' for my FGM. BBC News.
- 5.DESERT FLOWER. Kirkus Reviews.
- 6.Die WOMEN´S WORLD AWARDS-Preisträgerinnen 2004 stehen fest. OTS.at.
- 7.English, Al Jazeera. Riz Khan- FGM Waris Dirie- 02 August 07 - video Dailymotion. Dailymotion. 17 April 2012.
- 8.Hofmann, Katja. Model Liya Kebede to star in 'Flower'. Variety.com. 2008-02-09.
- 9.Österreichisches Filminstitut. Wüstenblume – A-Z – Filme – Österreichisches Filminstitut.
- 10.Desert Flower. IMDb.
- 11.AU appointed peace ambassadors for Africa. Afronline – The Voice Of Africa.
- 12.Ppr.com. PPR Foundation for Women's Rights and Dignity. 2014-02-21.
- 13.Heymann Brandt De Gelmini engagiert sich gegen Genitalverstümmelung. www.horizont.net.
- 14."Wüstenblume"-Autorin Waris Dirie präsentiert Dessous für Mey. www.horizont.net.
- 15.Waris Dirie, Coco de Mer, and Rankin Are Fighting for Women's Rights. Daily Front Row. March 7, 2019.
- 16.Model And Activist Waris Dirie Calls On Women To Join The Fight To End FGM. British Vogue. 7 March 2019.
- 17.Supported by iF projects 2019. iF WORLD DESIGN GUIDE Dead link. February 2023.
- 18.Dirie, Waris. Waris Dirie: Europe's FGM rates are rising and we must fight it. Harper's BAZAAR. March 12, 2019.
- 19.Comeback von Waris Dirie: Musical und Dessous im Namen der "Wüstenblume". kurier.at. 26 March 2019.
- 20.Desert Flower Center Waldfriede, DFC Berlin. www.dfc-waldfriede.de.
- 21.Abgeordnetenhaus von Berlin – Louise-Schroeder-Medaille 2016. www.parlament-berlin.de. 9 March 2016.
- 22.Quel honneur! Le Président Français au Centre Fleur du Désert - Desert Flower Foundation. www.desertflowerfoundation.org.
- 23.Desert Flower Foundation increases global awareness about FGM, makes impact in West Africa.
- 24.Voss, Huberta von. Die Wüste bebt. Die Welt. March 16, 2019.
- 25.First "Desert Flower School" is at the heart of our educational initiative - Desert Flower Foundation. www.desertflowerfoundation.org.
- 26.30 Years of WOTY: Unforgettable Moments From Every Glamour Women of the Year Awards. glamour.com. 6 October 2020.
- 27.Waris Dirie: 'Female genital mutilation is pure violence against girls'.
- 28.Corine Award Corine Award 2002 Waris Dirie for Desert Dawn
- 29.Womensworldawards.com. Women's World Awards.
- 30.Communiqué de la Présidence de la République annonçant la remise de décoration par M. Nicolas SARKOZY, Président de la République July 12, 2007.
- 31.World Demographic Association.
- 32.Martin Buber Foundation Martin Buber Gold Medal 2007 for Waris Dirie
- 33.Club.quotidiano.net. La top model somala Waris Dirie: "Chiedo aiuto al Papa per salvare le bambine africane dall'infibulazione" | Blog Quotidiano.net.
- 34.Thomas-Dehler-Preis 2013 geht an Waris Dirie. Die Presse. July 8, 2013.
- 35.Ex-supermodel Waris Dirie says FGM can end in her lifetime. Reuters. January 29, 2015.
- 36."Auch in Österreich ein Problem": Kämpferin für Rechte von Mädchen. Die Presse. November 29, 2017.
- 37.Waris Dirie, Isoke Aikpitanyi e Margarita Meira: sono tre le Donne dell'anno 2018 - La Stampa. lastampa.it. March 16, 2018.
- 38.Meissner, Paulina. Schwarzkopf "Million Chances Award": "Wüstenblume" Waris Dirie wird ausgezeichnet. Express.de Dead link. September 2023.
- 39.Committee, The Sunhak Peace Prize. The Sunhak Peace Prize for 2019 Awarded to Waris Dirie and Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina. www.prnewswire.com.
- 40.Der in Seoul veranstaltete Sunhak Peace Prize für 2019 wurde an Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina und Waris Dirie verliehen. OTS.at.
- 41.NACHRICHTEN, n-tv. Diries neue Staatsbürgerschaft. n-tv.de.
- 42.Harding, Luke. Somalian-born author attacked by stalker. The Guardian. 10 March 2004. 0261-3077.
- 43.Model's stalker had previous arrests BBC News, March 11, 2004.
- 44.Ex-model Waris Dirie found in Brussels. usatoday30.usatoday.com. 7 March 2008.
- 45.Model turned activist Waris Dirie says world is ignoring the crime. Reuters. March 7, 2019.
- 46.Zeitung, Süddeutsche. Gänsehautmomente beim Musical "Wüstenblume". Süddeutsche.de. 23 February 2020.
- 47."Wüstenblume" - Waris Diries Leben als Musical in St. Gallen. www.suedostschweiz.ch. 23 February 2020.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 1
- Zabus, Chantal. Africa and Its Significant Others. Rodopi. 61–76. 2003. 978-90-420-1029-1.
References
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reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q78644: Waris DirieWikimedia Foundation
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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