Waris Dirie was born in 1965 into a nomad family living in the region of Gallcaio, in the Somali desert near the border to Ethiopia. At the tender age of five, she underwent the inhuman procedure of genital mutilation. This horrible tradition is still practiced worldwide today, both by Moslems and Christians.

At the age of 13 Waris fled from a forced marriage to a man, who could have been her grandfather in age. 

She was discovered by the British top photographer Terence Donovan as a model at the age of 18 and became an international celebrity.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, appointed her as UN Special Ambassador for the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation.

Desert Flower Foundation: http://www.desertflowerfoundation.org/en/

Desert Flower Film trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la5apMluzA8