


Waris was born into a traditional Somali family, desert nomads who engaged in such ancient and antiquated customs as genital mutilation and arranged marriage. Desert Flower, her intimate and inspiring memoir, is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered about the beauty of African life, the chaotic existence of a supermodel, or the joys of new motherhood.

Waris Dirie leads a double life - by day, she is an international supermodel and human rights ambassador for the United Nations by night, she dreams of the simplicity of life in her native Somalia and the family she was forced to leave behind.
