Waris Dirie

Photo Courtesy Of Waris Dirie 

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE “DESERT FLOWER” AND THE BOOKS THAT FOLLOWED?
Friends of mine convinced me to write a book about my life. They supported me through the process. Afterwards, no publisher wanted my story. I almost printed the book on my own expenses and giving it free of charge to schools and universities. In the end a publisher in New York bought the script and sold 12 million copies. After this every publisher in the world wanted to publish books by me.

YOUR LIFE PLAYS OUT LIKE A MODERN DAY CINDERELLA STORY, A FAIRY TALE. YOU’RE MYTHOLOGICAL ALMOST. IS THIS AN ADVANTAGE IN YOUR WORK OR ARE YOU OVERWHELMINGLY ABSTRACT TO THE PEOPLE YOU’RE TRYING TO REACH THROUGH YOUR FOUNDATION?
I‘ve had a lot of luck in my life, and I‘m very grateful. I don‘t see myself as a mythology, rather as a hard working woman with a mission. Fame serves as an advantage to spread a message, if you have one.

WHY DOES THE PRACTICE OF FGM (FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION) PERSIST DESPITE THE UNETHICAL AND MEDICAL ISSUES INVOLVED?
Because people are ignorant. Ignorance is the worst and most difficult attitude to eradicate.

CAN A PERFECT STATE OF GENDER EQUALITY TRULY EXIST (ESPECIALLY AS SOME MEN MAY BE UNDER THE IMPRESSION IT MEANS A CARTE BLANCHE TO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR DINNER)?
Absolutely! This is the goal. I can pay for my dinner myself.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR DAY-TO-DAY AS YOU’RE ENGAGED IN SEVERAL PROJECTS SIMULTENOUSLY?
I get up early in the morning and I have a very good team at my Desert Flower Foundation.

HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU DID YOUR FIRST EVER FASHION SHOW OR PHOTO SHOOT?
It was pretty easy. They take pictures of you, fly you to beautiful places, and you’re getting paid for this. It‘s an easy way to make money.

HOW DID YOU COPE UNDER THE PRESSURES OF BEING A MODEL AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SIZE ZERO CONTROVERSY IN THE INDUSTRY?
I never felt pressure as a model. I was the one who made pressure. Size zero is stupid and invented by idiots. Good food to me is more important than a modelling job.

WHAT HOBBIES DO YOU HAVE OUTSIDE OF YOUR PROFESSION?
Sports, music and painting.

WHAT IS TIMELESS STYLE AND HOW DOES ONE ACHIEVE IT?
Don’t care about the others. Wear what you like – then you are timeless.

HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN YOUR FLAWLESS SKIN AND STUNNING FIGURE, SURELY YOU’VE FOUND THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AND REFUSE TO TELL?
Olive oil is the best body lotion. You can get it in every supermarket. That is my secret.