The mother of Angelina Jolie’s adopted daughter Zahara has spoken out, saying she has never disputed the adoption. The young woman, Mentwabe Dawit, admits that the baby was a product of rape and though her mother was understanding, she had trouble feeding Zahara, then named Yemsrach (”good news” in Amharic). She ran away and her mother, who feared her dead after a fruitless search, then put the baby up for adoption.

Mentwabe feels that the baby is fortunate to have been adopted by someone as famous as Jolie.