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The Flower of the Desert

This series chronicles the extraordinary journey of a woman who rose from the harsh realities of the African desert to the glamorous world of international modeling. It details her courageous defiance of tradition, her escape from a forced marriage, and her arduous path toward freedom and self-determination. These narratives are infused with resilience, strength, and the indomitable human spirit overcoming immense adversity. It's an inspiring testament to breaking barriers and forging one's own destiny against all odds.

Desert Dawn
Desert Flower

Recommended Reading Order

  1. 1

    Desert Flower

    • 369 pages
    • 13 hours of reading
    4.2(42362)Add rating

    Waris Dirie (the name means desert flower) lives a double life - by day she is a famous model and UN spokeswoman on women's rights in Africa, at night she dreams of her native Somalia. Waris, one of 12 children, was born into a traditional family of desert nomads in East Africa. She remembers her early childhood as carefree- racing camels and moving on with her family to the next grazing spot - until it came her turn to meet the old woman who administered the ancient custom imposed on most Somalian girls: circumcision. Waris suffered this torture when she was just five years old. Then, aged 12, when her father attempted to arrange a marriage with a 60 year old stranger in exchange for five camels - she took flight. After an extraordinary escape through the dangerous desert she made her way to London and worked as a maid for the Somalian ambassador until that family returned home. Penniless and speaking little English, she became a janitor in McDonalds where she was famously discovered by a fashion photographer. Her story is a truly inspirational and extraordinary self-portrait of a remarkable woman whose spirit is as breathtaking as her beauty.

    Desert Flower
  2. 2

    Desert Dawn

    • 230 pages
    • 9 hours of reading
    3.9(2534)Add rating

    Fashion model and UN ambassador Waris Dirie was born into a traditional family of tribal desert nomads in Somalia and told the story of her escape from there in "Desert Flower". Here she traces the roots of her courage, resilience and humour back to her motherland, and particularly her mother

    Desert Dawn