Zahira Zahir

Zahira Zahir
Other namesZ
EducationZarghuna High School
Occupation(s)Barber, cosmetologist
Parents
RelativesAhmad Zahir (brother)

Zahira Zahir is a Washington barber and cosmetologist.[1][2][3][4] Zahira's salon is in the Watergate hotel. She is known for cutting the hair of United States President George W. Bush. The President's nickname for her is Z.

Early life

Zahira is the daughter of Abdul Zahir, who was the Prime Minister of Afghanistan from 1971 to 1972.[2] An ethnic Pashtun, she is also the older sister of Ahmad Zahir, called the "Afghan Elvis".[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Zahira is a graduate of, and later a teacher at, Zarghuna High School, reported to have been the leading school for girls in Kabul.

Life in the United States

Zahira moved to the United States in 1975, when her husband was Afghanistan's envoy to the United Nations.[13]

After the Communist coup in 1978 her brother was murdered, her father put under house arrest, and all her family's assets were seized.[13]

Around the time of the Communist coup in Afghanistan she and her husband separated.[14]

Zahira described working for Milton Pitts, President Ronald Reagan's barber, accompanying him to the White House to give the President a manicure while he got his hair cut, and being asked whether Reagan should authorize giving the Afghan resistance stinger missiles.[13]

Zahira also started cutting George H. W. Bush's hair, as well as Barbara Bush,[13] Reagan, Margaret Thatcher and other dignitaries.[15] She described feeling hurt by the number of customers she lost following al Qaeda's attacks on September 11, 2001, and being brought to tears by George H.W. Bush's thoughtfulness. He contacted her personally, following the attacks, telling her:

I hope you're OK and that no one thinks you have anything to do with this.

When he learned of the prejudice she was experiencing he sent her an autographed photo, and organized autographed photos from several other Presidents who knew her.[13]

Legacy

In 2003, Zahira raised funds to restore schools for girls in Kabul.[2][3][16]

References

  1. ^ "Afghan woman cuts Bush's hair". CNN. Washington DC. 2001-12-01. Retrieved 2017-08-27. She especially needs the money, she said, after losing dozens of clients since September 11. She said she believes they stopped coming because she's from Afghanistan.
  2. ^ a b c Amy Waldman (March 20, 2003). "Kabul Journal; The Afghan Elvis 'Lives' 24 Years After His Death". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  3. ^ a b John R. Thomson (September 20, 2005). "Above & Beyond: Profiles of Afghan commitment". National Review. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  4. ^ "The Life of the President's Barber". CNN. December 2, 2001. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  5. ^ "احمد ظاهر، الويس پريسلی افغانستان Ahmad Zahir: Elvis Presley of Afghanistan". BBC Persian. 6 December 2003.
  6. ^ "احمد ظاهر ولې پښتو سندرې کمې ویلې دي؟ Why Did Ahmad Zahir Sing Few Pashto Songs?". BBC Pashto. 13 June 2018.
  7. ^ "احمد ظاهر یو لیجنډ سندرغاړی Ahmad Zahir: A Legendary Singer". Haroon Bacha. Mashaal Radio. 23 October 2016.
  8. ^ "Kabul Journal; The Afghan Elvis 'Lives' 24 Years After His Death". Amy Waldman. New York Times. 20 March 2003.
  9. ^ "'Evergreen': Afghan Elvis's legacy endures, decades after death". Wakil Khosar. Al Jazeera. 10 October 2019.
  10. ^ "Pilgrims flock to Kabul to pay tribute to the Afghan Elvis". James Astill. The Guardian. 27 November 2003.
  11. ^ "Afghan Singer's Legacy Continues At Home And Abroad". Mustafa Sarwar. Gandhara. 29 October 2018.
  12. ^ "BBC World Service - The Documentary, Remembering Afghanistan's Elvis". BBC.
  13. ^ a b c d e "Hairstylist has the ears of politicians". Seattle Post Intelligencer. September 4, 2003. Archived from the original on April 19, 2004. Retrieved 2008-02-03.
  14. ^ Richard Rahn (July 29, 2004). "Making the World Better". Washington Times. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  15. ^ "Ahmad Zahir".
  16. ^ "Inside the Beltway". The Washington Times. 2003-02-10. Retrieved 2017-08-27. No, the current president's father won't be swinging a hammer like former President Jimmy Carter. Rather, the senior Mr. Bush will deliver the keynote address Wednesday at a Watergate Hotel fund-raiser for the Friends of Zahira's Schools.