Dirie, Waris (1967–)

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Dirie, Waris (1967–)

Somalia-born model and women's-rights activist. Name variations: Waris Walsh. Born 1967 into a tribe of herdsmen in Somalia; one of 12 children born to desert nomads; children: son Aleeke.

At 13, escaped being sold into marriage for 5 camels to a man 4 times her age by running away to London where she worked as her uncle's maid; taught herself to read and write; became a top model, including a campaign for Revlon; appeared in the James Bond film, The Living Daylights (1987); left the runways to become a UN ambassador, campaigning against female circumcision (1997), having been a victim of the practice at age 5 (her sister died from infection after her circumcision).

See also autobiographies, Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey of a Desert Nomad (1998), Desert Dawn and Nomad's Daughter.