Waris Dirie began life as a Somalian nomad, born into a family who followed the ancient custom of female circumcision.

She survived the operation at the age of five, but it killed her sister and two cousins. At 12, Waris's father wanted to sell her into marriage with a 60-year-old stranger in exchange for five camels. She fled and eventually found her way to London where she worked as a servant and later in McDonald's. It is an amazing story, but more amazing still was her discovery by a fashion photographer and transformation into a model.