Desert dawn

Fashion model, UN ambassador and courageous spirit, Waris Dirie is a remarkable woman. Born into a family of tribal desert nomads in Somalia, she told her story - enduring female circumcision at five years old; running away at twelve through the desert in order to escape an arranged marriage; being discovered by Terence Donovan as she worked as a cleaner in London; and becoming a top fashion model - in her book, the worldwide bestseller, Desert Flower. Although Waris Dirie fled her homeland, she never forgot the country that moulded her. She traces the roots of her courage, resilience and humour back to her culture, and most particularly to her mother.