Brooke Shields: Kenya, 1984

Kenyan photographer Mohamed Amin was in 1984 commissioned by Visnews to cover a story on the American actress Brooke Shields.

Many know the talented actress Brooke Shields for her accolades in the fashion and entertainment industry. What you may not know is this New Jersey native loves adventure.

Shields visited Kenya in 1984 as a 19-year-old with her mother, Teri Shields. They stayed at Saudi billionaire Adnan Khashoggi's Ol Pejeta ranch. Mohamed Amin was asked to document the visit for Visnews. 

Covering Shields' visit to Kenya was a kind of triumph for Mo Amin that was far removed from his usual news film coverage. He filmed Brooke with Betty Melville's Rothschild giraffes and her meeting with Maasai warriors. 

When the star went on a hot air balloon ride over the Maasai Mara, Mo climbed inside the balloon in order to film the gas burners as they came to life. Visnews described Mo's work with Shields as "epic, of Ben Hur proportions".

Decades later, Brooke Shields still enjoys her visits to Kenya, spending holidays with giraffes at Nairobi's famous Giraffe Manor.

Mo would also collaborate with Brooke Shields on the series "Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous" with host Robin Leach. She sent this photo to Mo with the note 'To Mohamed, It was fun working with you. Dangerous...but fun.'