My family is and will always stay the most important to me.

Sometimes I wonder where I am from. I am either way ahead or I come from another world. I don't recognise this world.

I have often felt like I was the only one fighting against female genital mutilation. There is still a huge taboo surrounding the topic, because it involves the most private parts of the female´s body. But whenever I feel like this is too much for me to do, I read e-mails and messages I receive every day from people thanking me for speaking up for them, for giving them a voice. These messages let me know that I am not alone, and that what I do is worthwhile.

Less hatred, more love, less war, more peace, more respect for the Mother Nature and for other people.

Many friends have expressed concern that a religious fanatic will try to kill me when I go to Africa. After all, I’ll be speaking out against a crime many fundamentalists consider a holy practice. I’m sure my work will be dangerous, and I admit to being scared…. But my faith tells me to be strong, that God led me down this path for a reason. He has work for me to do. This is my mission. And I believe that long before the day I was born, God chose the day I will die, so I can’t change that. In the meantime, I might as well take a chance, because that’s what I’ve done all my life.

I don't know what a supermodel is. If they call me that, I might have to punch them. It's just so vain and so unreal.

Every day, women move mountains. It is an insult to have an international women's day.