Madifon By Fashion - Interview with Waris Dirie:
MbF: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE “DESERT FLOWER” AND THE BOOKS THAT FOLLOWED?
WD: 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.
MbF: 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?
WD: 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.
MbF: WHY DOES THE PRACTICE OF FGM (FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION) PERSIST DESPITE THE UNETHICAL AND MEDICAL ISSUES INVOLVED?
WD: Because people are ignorant. Ignorance is the worst and most difficult attitude to eradicate.
MbF: 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)?
WD: Absolutely! This is the goal. I can pay for my dinner myself.
MbF: HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR DAY-TO-DAY AS YOU’RE ENGAGED IN SEVERAL PROJECTS SIMULTENOUSLY?
WD: I get up early in the morning and I have a very good team at my Desert Flower Foundation.
MbF: HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU DID YOUR FIRST EVER FASHION SHOW OR PHOTO SHOOT?
WD: 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.
MbF: HOW DID YOU COPE UNDER THE PRESSURES OF BEING A MODEL AND HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE SIZE ZERO CONTROVERSY IN THE INDUSTRY?
WD: 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.
MbF: WHAT HOBBIES DO YOU HAVE OUTSIDE OF YOUR PROFESSION?
WD: Sports, music and painting.
MbF: WHAT IS TIMELESS STYLE AND HOW DOES ONE ACHIEVE IT?
WD: Don’t care about the others. Wear what you like – then you are timeless.
MbF: HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN YOUR FLAWLESS SKIN AND STUNNING FIGURE, SURELY YOU’VE FOUND THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH AND REFUSE TO TELL?
WD: Olive oil is the best body lotion. You can get it in every supermarket. That is my secret.
