Afghan Girl Quiz: Steve McCurry's National Geographic Cover

The Afghan Girl quiz looks behind the green-eyed portrait that appeared on National Geographic's cover in June 1985. Play 10 interactive questions on Steve McCurry, the refugee camp in Pakistan, Kodachrome film, the red shawl, the long search for the subject, Sharbat Gula's identity and her later life.

Start Afghan Girl Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Photographer
Who took the Afghan Girl photograph?
Magazine
Which magazine put the portrait on its cover?
Place
Where was the photo taken?
Eyes
Which feature made the portrait unforgettable?
Shawl
What color was her shawl?
Film
Which color film did McCurry use?
Name
What is the subject's name?
Found
When was she identified?
Proof
How was her identity confirmed?
Later
Where did she move in 2021?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Who took the Afghan Girl photograph?
Answer: Steve McCurry
He is an American photojournalist.
Q2: Which magazine put the portrait on its cover?
Answer: National Geographic
It ran in June 1985.
Q3: Where was the photo taken?
Answer: A refugee camp in Pakistan
It was taken in 1984.
Q4: Which feature made the portrait unforgettable?
Answer: Her piercing green eyes
Many readers remembered her gaze.
Q5: What color was her shawl?
Answer: Red
It framed her face.
Q6: Which color film did McCurry use?
Answer: Kodachrome
He later shot the last roll made.
Q7: What is the subject's name?
Answer: Sharbat Gula
Her name was unknown for years.
Q8: When was she identified?
Answer: 2002
A team went looking for her.
Q9: How was her identity confirmed?
Answer: Iris recognition
Her eye patterns matched.
Q10: Where did she move in 2021?
Answer: Italy
She was evacuated from Afghanistan.

Afghan Girl Quiz – Steve McCurry's National Geographic Cover

In 1984 photographer Steve McCurry photographed a young Afghan refugee at a camp in Pakistan. Her piercing green eyes and red shawl made the image one of the most recognized portraits in the world.

National Geographic ran it on the cover in June 1985, but no one knew her name. McCurry shot it on Kodachrome, the color slide film he later used for the very last roll ever processed.

In 2002 a team found her and named her as Sharbat Gula, confirming it with iris recognition. She faced hardship in later years and was evacuated to Italy in 2021.

What This Quiz Teaches

Photography fans will enjoy these questions.

Who took the photo
Where it was taken
Why it is famous
How she was found
Where she lives now

Did You Know?

The photo is among the most reproduced magazine covers.
McCurry shot it with natural light.
The image raised awareness of refugees.
National Geographic made a film about the search.
The portrait has also raised questions about consent in photography.