The girl in the photo was later identified as Sharbat Gula. At just 12, she had already lost her mother and fled Afghanistan due to war. She married at 13 and lived in hardship in Pakistan.
McCurry described her expression as one of strength and dignity. He later reunited with Sharbat in 2002 and noted how life had visibly aged her, reflecting years of poverty, poor health, and grief, including the loss of a daughter.
In 2016, Sharbat was arrested in Pakistan over alleged false documents. She denied the accusations and, after a short imprisonment and hospitalization, chose to return to Afghanistan, upset by how she was treated after living in Pakistan for 35 years.
Upon her return, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed her and provided an apartment. Her return was symbolic for Afghanistan, representing resilience and national pride.
However, after the Taliban took control in 2021, Sharbat and her children were granted asylum in Italy. She spoke of the burden the famous photo brought, revealing she initially disliked being photographed due to cultural norms.
Now living in freedom, Sharbat supports her daughter’s dream of becoming a doctor and takes pride in being able to offer her children education and choice—a freedom she never had.
