National Geographic tracks down Afghan girl in famous photo

AP ^ | 3-12-02

[Oldeconomybuyer]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Seventeen years ago, an Afghan girl orphaned and living in a refugee camp appeared on the cover of National Geographic, her eyes big and green, a red scarf draped loosely over her hair.

Now, the magazine says it has tracked down the subject of that famous photo, a wife and mother living in a remote part of Afghanistan, and will once again feature her in its April issue focusing on the plight of refugees.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[geaux]

Awesome! I can't wait to see her.

[Dog Gone]

Why would that photo be famous?

[mlmr]

I imagine that is about as much as we are going to see of her.

[VikingsRazeAVillage]

She was a 'hottie'. I can't wait to see her in a 'Burka Bikini'!!!

[geaux]

Bigger picture:

[geaux]

Look at post #6.

[geaux]

I hope not. I had always wondered what had happened to her.

[ArrogantBustard]

The islamofascist freakballs who insist on covering faces like that are the ones who deserve to be horsewhipped.

AB

[Cowgirl]

Seems like they ought to fork over some money to her since she has made them so much money.

[Lizavetta]

Here's her most recent picture:

Living in the mountains can be hard on a girl.

[Beelzebubba]

[geaux]

In the shade of an open tent flap, photographer Steve McCurry immortalized the haunted eyes of a 12-year-old refugee in a camp on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The girl’s piercing green eyes, shocked with hints of blue and fear, gave away her story. Soviet helicopters destroyed her village and family, forcing her to make a two-week trek out of the perilous mountains of Afghanistan.

“This portrait summed up for me the trauma and plight, and the whole situation of suddenly having to flee your home and end up in refugee camp, hundreds of miles away,” McCurry says of the photo that became a National Geographic icon after it was published on the cover in June 1985.

He had come across her two years earlier, while working on a story about the millions of refugees who fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. That was also the only time he saw this nameless face, despite numerous efforts to relocate her after the camp she stayed in was evacuated.

Since then, this raw, untouched image has been used on rugs and tattoos, making it one of the most widely reproduced photos in the world, McCurry says.

“I don’t a think a week has gone by for 15 or however many years that I still don’t get requests from people, trying to get information on her,” he says.

[geaux]

Sort of like for that girl who is suing over the Girls Gone Wild video? She's making that same argument.

[real saxophonist]

But did she sign a release?

[geaux]

No kidding. She's absolutely stunning. And she's only 12 in that picture.

[elephantlips]

That's what hangin' around in a burka can do to you.

[Bella_Bru]

She has an almost haunting, breathtaking look about her, doesn't she? She is far more lovely than Kate Moss or others like her.

[Stand Watch Listen]

Just seemed to capture the imagination of the world, this nation. I remember that picture being portrayed as the 'soul' of Afghanistan in the mid 1980's. I remember that cover...the young girl was striking.

Wonder if the years have been kind to her? After all, for the last 17 years, she had to endure the Taliban, birthing/raising 4 children, life in the desert/mountains, Islamic religion, conflicts due to the Northerm Alliance/Pashtun, Soviet Union, America.

[Dog Gone]

Well, that's different!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

TFF!

[Phil V.]

Why would that photo be famous?

Haunting.

I'm certain that millions who have seen that picture reacted as I did. It was one of those pictures that "looked back". She was beautiful. Her eyes were piercing . . . beauty lost in HELL . . .

You have not seen the picture, Dog?

[cmak9]

"Friends don't let friends practice Islam" You really should trademark this, and print up bumper stickers. It is really is good!

[egarvue]

Thanks for the info, I remember the original issue and being totally facinated by those eyes (I was 16 at the time; hormones, go figure). What strikes me the most when I look at photos of the Afghanis (of whatever tribe) is now NOT Arab they are; they're features are as Caucasian as mine. We so often think of people from that region as "just some more Arabs", when the majority are not - the Taliban and al-Qaida are Arabs, the Afghanis are not.

[geaux]

You're correct; she has a haunting look about her. I remember when the picture first came out. I'm her age, and the image really stuck with me. I still have the magazine with her picture. I've always wondered what happened to her, and what kind of life she was having, knowing it was far different from the one I was leading.

[Dog Gone]

I don't think I'd seen the picture. I certainly wasn't subscribing to the magazine 17 years ago.

From reading the thread I can see that it is a famous photo, and from the closeup, I can see why.

[real saxophonist]

Yes, he should, since he's posted it at least 17 times.

[Phil V.]

Dog, the pic went up after I posted to you. You DO see what I mean? It's a picture that one does not forget.
Stunning!Thanks, geaux!

[aShepard]

Beautiful girl. I wonder what the taliban did to her?
Mutilated genitals? Total poverty? Forced slavery to some heavily bearded freak?

[goodnesswins]

The article above says she MARRIED shortly after the picture was taken (at 13?) and had four girls (one who died in childbirth.) More girls for the Taliban to torture...with their "rules"...

[geaux]

No problem! And you're right -- it is the kind of picture that looks back.

[antaresequity]

photographer Steve McCurry

McCurry's works are brilliant.

[L.N. Smithee]

Ditto! I hope those eyes are still as beautiful.

[geaux]

No kidding

[diggerwillow]

I still have my copy, and that photo alone made it a collector's piece. That picture has has been brought up in conversations more times than you would think.

[GuillermoX]

Famous enough for me to know exactly which pict they were talking about without me having to see it...and I never subscribed to National Geographic.

[Timesink]

I just got that issue in the mail today! *running to unwrap it*

[geaux]

Are you serious? Is it already out? If so, I'm getting one on my way home tonight.

[antaresequity]

In the shade of an open tent flap photrapher Steve McCurry immortalized the haunted eyes of a 12-year-old refugee in a camp on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The girl’s piercing green eyes, shocked with hints of blue and fear, gave away her story. Soviet helicopters destroyed her village and family, forcing her to make a two-week trek out of the perilous mountains of Afghanistan.

“This portrait summed up for me the trauma and plight, and the whole situation of suddenly having to flee your home and end up in refugee camp, hundreds of miles away,” McCurry says of the photo that became a National Geographic icon after it was published on the cover in June 1985.

He had come across her two years earlier, while working on a story about the millions of refugees who fled Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion. That was also the only time he saw this nameless face, despite numerous efforts to relocate her after the camp she stayed in was evacuated.

Since then, this raw, untouched image has been used on rugs and tattoos, making it one of the most widely reproduced photos in the world, McCurry says.

“I don’t a think a week has gone by for 15 or however many years that I still don’t get requests from people, trying to get information on her,” he says.

[Timesink]

I am sorry to report that the years have not been kind to her. Her face is very weathered, her eyes are duller (though they still glare), she does not smile in a single photo.

She cannot read, she can only write her name. She works in a bakery. Her brother says she has never known a happy day, except - perhaps - her wedding day.

Her name is Sharbat Gula. She's Pashtun.

[Timesink]

Are you serious? Is it already out? If so, I'm getting one on my way home tonight.

Very serious; see my above post. Of course, subscription copies usually arrive before they hit the newsstand. And National Geographic can be hard to find on newsstands sometimes.

[skeeter]

She also thought the Taliban was cool, and expressed bitterness at the US bombing campaign.

However, she did say she wanted to visit the US some day.

[geaux]

Alas. I guess I'm kind of sorry they found her. Imagination is so much better than reality.

[antaresequity]

She's Pashtun

Pashtun = Taliban Stronghold...

[antaresequity]

Alas. I guess I'm kind of sorry they found her.

Me too

[Drew68]

I am sorry to report that the years have not been kind to her. Her face is very weathered, her eyes are duller (though they still glare), she does not smile in a single photo.

This is not surprising. At 29 or 30, she's elderly by Afghan standards. Look at how *old* she already looked at 12!

The mere fact that they found her alive after all this time is what is incredible about this story. It really is finding the proverbial needle in a haystack story without even knowing if the needle existed.