On a recent Thursday night, InStyle magazine, National Geographic and The Common Good hosted the New York City premiere screening of “Desert Flower” at The Paley Center for Media. The Co-hosts for the evening included the film’s leading lady, Liya Kebede, UN Goodwill Ambassador, Ross Bleckner, and former First Lady of New York, Michele Paige Paterson. After walking the red carpet, guests were offered wine or Veet vodka, and were then escorted to the theater.
The film is a moving biopic of the life of Supermodel Waris Dirie. The
former Bond girl, who is also featured in the current H&M campaign with Liya Kebede, fled a life of poverty and arranged marriages in Somali. She then ends up being discovered in London by a photographer while working in a fast food restaurant. At this moment, the Cinderella story unfolds. She starts landing major campaigns including Oil of Olay, Benetton, Levi’s and Revlon. She also finds a love interest, played by indie film star Anthony Mackie. The BBC then approaches her to be featured in a documentary titled “The Day that Changed my Life” where she discusses the prevalence of the 3,000 year old practice of female genital mutilation (FMG), not only in her country of origin but worldwide. She later becomes a UN Special Ambassador to help end the practice. She also opens a foundation, the Desert Flower Foundation to become a full-time advocate for victims of FMG.The film releases in US theaters on March 18th. To view the trailer, visit Desert Flower.
- Christian McKenzie for The Quest for “It”, READ MORE
