logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
8m 57s

Waris Dirie

Bbc World Service
About this episode

In 1987, an unknown 18 year-old Somalian model called Waris Dirie walked into the studio of renowned British photographer Terence Donovan.

She had never had her picture taken before but after striking her first pose it was clear belonged in front of the lens.

Although she says modelling was "easy-peasy” it was not an obvious career path for Waris.

She was born in the Somalian desert to a nomadic family.

When she was young she was forced to undergo female genital mutilation after which her family arranged a marriage for her.

Waris tells Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty how she walked barefoot across the Somalian desert to escape child marriage and how she became an international supermodel sensation.

Recent episodes explore everything from football in Brazil, the history of the ‘Indian Titanic’ and the invention of air fryers, to Public Enemy’s Fight The Power, subway art and the political crisis in Georgia. We look at the lives of some of the most famous leaders, artists, scientists and personalities in history, including: visionary architect Antoni Gaudi and the design of the Sagrada Familia; Michael Jordan and his bespoke Nike trainers; Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal; and Görel Hanser, manager of legendary Swedish pop band Abba on the influence they’ve had on the music industry. You can learn all about fascinating and surprising stories, such as the time an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at the President of the United States in protest of America’s occupation of Iraq; the creation of the Hollywood commercial that changed advertising forever; and the ascent of the first Aboriginal MP.

(Photo: Waris Dirie. Credit: Waris Dirie)

Up next
Apr 2025
The Cu Chi tunnels of the Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, North Vietnamese VietCong guerrillas built a vast network of tunnels in the south of the country as part of the insurgency against the South Vietnamese government and their American allies. The tunnel network was a key base and shelter for the North Vietna ... Show More
9m 43s
Today
The British love of tea (from Here for The History)
How and when did tea arrive in the UK? Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson take a look at the mythological origins, the role of a Portuguese princess and even going to war for a cuppa. We’ll start our journey with the first appearance of tea in England in the 1600s and its popularisat ... Show More
32m 13s
Apr 27
The world's first perfume archive
On 26 April 1990, the world's first perfume archive opened in Versailles, France.The idea behind L'Osmothèque was to create a collection of scents and preserve their memory.Perfumer Jean Claude Ellena was one of the team who created it.He speaks to Jen Dale about how L'Osmothèque ... Show More
10m 6s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2023
Waris Dirie: The fight against FGM
Stephen Sackur speaks to Waris Dirie, the Somali born model, writer and activist. She was raised in poverty, and later became the muse of big fashion houses in New York and beyond. She chose campaigning over the catwalk, speaking out against female genital mutilation, which she e ... Show More
24m 12s
Oct 2019
The Desert Flower: Waris Dirie
How can women change a dangerous tradition? Ryan Geertsma and Liz Waid look at the life of Ethiopian model Waris Dirie. She has used her difficult past to create hope for many women. 
15m 1s
Feb 2020
Halima Aden: Challenging supermodel stereotypes
The designer catwalk and the glossy magazine cover are powerful cultural signifiers. Top models who occupy those spaces are deemed to have a look that attracts and sells. But how diverse is that look? How inclusive? Stephen Sackur interviews Halima Aden, a supermodel who challeng ... Show More
24m 20s
Sep 2024
Esther of Burundi: From Royal to Run(a)way | 41
Esther Kamatari is a Burundian princess – and one of France’s first Black supermodels. She was raised to be a devoted princess to her people, but when the monarchy falls and her family is blacklisted, Esther flees to Paris. She embraces her new life and makes history on the Paris ... Show More
44m 22s
Nov 2021
Not Your Venus
Sarah 'Saartjie' Baartman was taken to the UK by a British doctor. But did she know what she was signing up for?Stage-named 'The Hottentot Venus', Sarah was paraded around freak shows in London and Paris.During her life and even after her death, she was objectified, mistreated an ... Show More
35m 7s
Sep 2019
Breaking Barriers with Mariah Idrissi (01.09.2019)
Meet one of the pioneers of the modest fashion movement Mariah Idrissi. Sally talks to her about her rise to fame with the ground-breaking H&M campaign, her ambitions in film, and why she’s out to change the world, but she doesn’t want to change Hollywood. Plus Mariah reveals som ... Show More
28m 28s
Nov 2021
When Family Secrets (And Soap Operas) Fuel Creativity
National Geographic photographer Diana Markosian tells us about her remarkable childhood and how her career as a photographer led her into the war in Chechnya—and eventually to her long-lost father’s doorstep in Armenia. For more info on this episode, visit natgeo.com/overheard W ... Show More
23m 2s