Where 'Afghan girl' is decades later as photographer behind iconic photo details their last interaction

At just 12 years old, Sharbat Gula was propelled into the spotlight, but where is the famous 'Afghan girl' now?

Back in 1984, Steve McCurry took a photograph of a young girl in Pakistan. The photo of the Afghan refugee went on to become known worldwide after it graced the front of National Geographic.

McCurry at the time said he knew the photograph at the Nasir Bagh refugee camp near Peshawar, Pakistan, 'had potential' — but he never realized just how famous it would become.

"I knew the image had potential at the time I took it, but I could never predicted nor imagined that it would have worldwide impact for the past decades," he told the Metro in 2023.

The picture is now seen as 'the most recognized photograph' in the history of the National Geographic magazine.

Steve McCurry is the man behind the viral photograph (Elena Di Vincenzo/Archivio Elena Di Vincenzo/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)

Nearly 20 years later, McCurry reached out to Gula again in 2002 and took another portrait of her. It's believed that this was the last time he had contact with Gula.

Speaking to Al Jazeera of their second and final meeting, McCurry recalled: "When we found her again back in 2002, she was a mother, continuing her struggle to try to make ends meet for her family.

"We saw an evolution of difficulty transcend on her face. She looked hardened because of the climate, anxiety, lack of proper hygiene, poor nutrition. Despite all she’s endured, she’s still going."

He added: "I want to continue to help this person who’s been part of my life. I feel we do have this connection."

The photo on the right of McCurry was taken in 2002 (ULRICH PERREY/DPA/AFP via Getty Images)

But where is 'Afghan girl' now? As of 2022, she was living in Italy having fled Afghanistan for a second time when the Taliban took over the country in August 2021.

Speaking to La Repubblica about why she chose to move to the European country, Gula said: "When the Taliban arrived I understood that it would be difficult for me to stay: I am too well known in Afghanistan.

"Several governments have offered us help: I chose Italy because I had heard so much about it, about the place but also about the people. Everyone said that you Italians are kind and welcoming. I only knew that Italy has done a lot for Afghanistan. And I decided to give it a try."

Sharbat Gula was last known to be living in Italy (Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Gula seemingly liked the idea of not being as well known in Italy in comparison to other countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan and America (where National Geographic is based).

"Until now, almost nobody knows who I am and for me that is ok," Gula told the Italian outlet. "I'll tell you something, the first time I went to the hospital, some doctors and nurses looked at me, they wanted to know if I was the little girl in the photo. In the end they decided that it wasn't me and I was happy about it.

"Only my Italian teacher, my doctor and a few others know my story, and that's fine with me."