[xsVfF9Em]

I think she's famous because she loks like a deer caught in the spotlights of a car just before it's hit. Kind of rare to see a human like that.

its the eyes bro. i got to admit those are a amazing color. not too many people, even among whites, have eyes like that.


its a good picture in and of itself for the reason you brought up, but the eyes make it.

---------- Post added 2012-06-07 at 14:02 ----------

Perhaps she looks strange to you because she doesn't fit the ideal of the feminist Western "beauty"...

There are many Afghans with light eyes. I think she was just an example for people in the West who really did not know much about this place.

this probably sums it up best.

[cinggooft]

I never said it wasn't her real eyes color . Where I said that ?
By the way , her eyes was obviously put in a some light, if it wasn't the picture would not looks like that . And light always influence how eyes looks .

For example , my eyes always has different colors on pictures , that depend of the light

Could be that external light is being focused on her eyes, to accentuate the affect. You know photography so your judgement is fair. But nevertheless, personally I find the image amazing, and feel for the people of the region and brings up a whole lot of emotions just seeing the image holistically. Pretty: of course, but there is much more than that in the image. I felt so, at least.

[Cengaeas]

Yes, her eyes are pretty and they catch the "eye"; but that is not the only reason. I find her face harmonious and really pretty. Apart from the dust and grime she is pleasant to look at. That color pigment is common in Afghan people, and her pose shows confidence and poise in a lady which is suppressed in the Afghan area. I doubt the magazine was trying to pull users on basis of looks or pseudo-European looks / pigment factors. It should the boldness and relentlessness of the Afghan people and how they have been ostracized and manipulated and tried to be conquered by the western nations and neighboring countries. She shows across confidence, and the Afghan attitude of "will never give up". The people are strong willed and fighters to the last. That is what the image shows. Not some theory off western looks being better. She has nothing of western ideals in her. I doubt most of the world looking at her said "ooh she has Western pigmented eyes, how nice". But rather an innuendo of what I mentioned, above, about Afghanistan and its relentless people. They will never give up, never be conquered. Graveyard of nations.

Traits associated with western ideals are a personal PoV. Cannot be generalized for the world to like a certain segment / sector as an overall average. That is unfair to write.



What you mean made. It is not a touched up image. Or you trying to say something else.

I didn't mean to be offensive. But my point remains. would this photo have been so popular if the girl had black eyes? No.

[movlabz]

I didn't mean to be offensive. But my point remains. would this photo have been so popular if the girl had black eyes? No.

Disagree. I gave my points why, but I respect your PoV.

[maxfieldj1]

The famous Afghan Girl photo, that has became famous all over the world as a symbol of afghan people, owe its popularity to the fact that the girl portrayed has green eyes.
Green eyes are striking beautiful, and catch the attention of the observer a lot more than black one's does. Also, they are unusual for a middle eastern woman.
Were her eyes brown she would not have became so famous all over the world.
So, in the end, my point: traits associated with western ideals are indeed more beautiful and considered beautiful all over the world.

LMAO. Green eyes are not rare for Afghans.

Also, they seem to have unusual colours too which are rather striking. Many of my Pashtun friends have green eyes, and even though I'm not Pashtun, so do some of my aunts. As for Sharbat Gula, she is world famous because she has such a haunting stare which pierces right through you... her eyes speak volumes of the tragic suffering women like her have to endure in their country, firstly as a result of war, and secondly, as a result of the cultural subordination and abuse of women in Afghanistan.

Also, I don't know what the hell you mean by ''traits associated with western ideals are indeed more beautiful and considered beautiful all over the world.'' The vast majority of them are Caucasian anyway, and the girl was not chosen to be on the cover of Vogue was she now?

[UitEz0Qo]

Pashtun has beautiful eyes

[Hitfaromarf]

She's only famous because of how exotic she looks for a Middle Easterner. It has nothing to do with the stare.

[thakitt]

LMAO. Green eyes are not rare for Afghans.

Also, they seem to have unusual colours too which are rather striking. Many of my Pashtun friends have green eyes, and even though I'm not Pashtun, so do some of my aunts. As for Sharbat Gula, she is world famous because she has such a haunting stare which pierces right through you... her eyes speak volumes of the tragic suffering women like her have to endure in their country, firstly as a result of war, and secondly, as a result of the cultural subordination and abuse of women in Afghanistan.

Also, I don't know what the hell you mean by ''traits associated with western ideals are indeed more beautiful and considered beautiful all over the world.'' The vast majority of them are Caucasian anyway, and the girl was not chosen to be on the cover of Vogue was she now?

True but they aren't exactly the norm (25% +) either. Afghans aren't more light eyed than any country in Southern Europe but are probably within the range of some Middle Eastern countries. I've met quite a few Afghan Pashtun in Canada and the vast majority are dark eyed.

I agree about your analysis of the picture though. Her eyes do "pierce" right into you. It's as if they are staring right into your soul as I mentioned earlier.

Finally, Afghans are Caucasoid for the most part. At least the Pashtuns and Tajiks. However, Pashtuns definitely do have substantial ASI admixture (20-22%) based on current studies.

[Theateetetuig]

She's Pashtun if I recall correctly. Anyways, stupid thread. She's famous because of her "stare" more than anything in my opinion. It's like she's looking into your soul in a way.

^^Yeah, exactly. Sharbat Gula is famous for being on the cover of National Geographic. I don't know why the OP stated she is only famous because she looks ''Western''.

There are Afghans who have European features but Sharbat doesn't even look Western for the most part. Her phenotype is typical of South-Central Asia not ever Europe.

[agildeta]

^^Yeah, exactly. Sharbat Gula is famous for being on the cover of National Geographic. I don't know why the OP stated she is only famous because she looks ''Western''.

There are Afghans who have European features but Sharbat doesn't even look Western for the most part. Her phenotype is typical of South-Central Asia not ever Europe.

True. I've seen extremely pale and light eyed/haired Pashtuns in images online and one in person. The one I met had brown hair and blue-green eyes. Although, her morphological facial features placed her in Middle Eastern/South Central Asia.

[sleepergun]

True but they aren't exactly the norm (25% +) either. Afghans aren't more light eyed than any country in Southern Europe but are probably within the range of some Middle Eastern countries. I've met quite a few Afghan Pashtun in Canada and the vast majority are dark eyed.

It depends where they're from. Generally, Kabulis will be darker. But so many of my Pashtun friends blend in here because they look remarkably Europeanish when they wear Western clothes. From a distance and in a huge crowd, you could not spot them so easily as you could spot say a Punjabi.

Finally, Afghans are Caucasoid for the most part. At least the Pashtuns and Tajiks. However, Pashtuns definitely do have substantial ASI admixture (20-22%) based on current studies. Yeah, that seems about right. It explains why even within families some siblings can look predominately Europoid while others look more South-Central Asian. Like I said to you before, there's an overlap with northwest South Asians but not a huge one.

[glamourcitys]

The girl I have in my avatar is not nordic and probably a fake blonde . By the way , that afghan girl is ugly . And I have nothing against dark skin, dark skin tend to looks better on peoples .

---------- Post added 2012-06-07 at 15:27 ----------



And it's not only according to me . Just google 'creepy afghan girl' the page is full of her picture

I don't think shes ugly.. Just because she doesn't have the money to afford cosmetic things you consider her ugly. If you were in the same situation you would look the same.

[GentlieGant]

She looks like if she has so much pain in the pain .

Pain in the pain? What the fuck does that mean?

[eCw56dzY]

So, in the end, my point: traits associated with western ideals are indeed more beautiful and considered beautiful all over the world.

No.

The photo is popular because it is a striking visual and was on the cover of a major international publication. The eye colour has a lot to do with why it is "striking", but also the dirty face, the red chador and the context of the time and place it was shot.

But whether the "people of the world" find her "beautiful" is another matter entirely and whether that is because of her arguably "western" features, is not demonstrated by the popularity of the photograph.

This is a terrible example to use to make your insipid "point".

I have close relatives with green eyes and brown complexions, and think they're freaky looking, not beautiful.

[Pharmadryg]

With a little more work done, she could pass as Portuguese. Maybe even a Bracari Celt. Looks a lot like Nelly Furtado.

[pesty4077]

Pain in the pain? What the fuck does that mean?

That mean she has so much pain in her sadness

[poRmawayncmop]

I tend to look at this famous photograph as it being a somewhat otherwise "Western-looking" woman (compared to the wild range of our world's colors, cultures), of light eyes, in her adolescent years. I think age has a lot to do with the proper appreciation of this picture. This is a young woman, who could pass as Mediterranean. Her expression is like the expression of a child-abductee, or a girl who has been locked in a closet all her life. To see that expression across a young "Western-looking" woman's face is very unusual to most of us in "civilized society."
Just my opinion. Great thread.

[boiffrona]

It depends where they're from. Generally, Kabulis will be darker. But so many of my Pashtun friends blend in here because they look remarkably Europeanish when they wear Western clothes. From a distance and in a huge crowd, you could not spot them so easily as you could spot say a Punjabi.

Kabulis are darker? I thought the darkest Pashtuns were from Kandahar in Southern Afghanistan and in some parts of Pakistan. Also, the majority of Pashtuns are in Pakistan and I've heard people claim that Peshawari Pashtuns are the darkest because they are most eastern Pasthuns near the Punjab border. That's probably bs though.

Anyways, I disagree. If anything, when Pashtuns wear western clothes and are clean shaven, they look closer to westernized Persians or Middle Easterners.

Also, you said from a distance and in a huge crowd, you couldn't spot them and that's mostly down to skintone. Although, the vast majority of Pashtuns are darker than your average white British person.

What's with the Punjabi comment? Obviously we stick out in England other than in Punjabi or South Asian dominated areas.

Yeah, that seems about right. It explains why even within families some siblings can look predominately Europoid while others look more South-Central Asian. Like I said to you before, there's an overlap with northwest South Asians but not a huge one. Well, what I've noticed is that most Afghan Pashtuns look either fairly Iranian looking or to a lesser extent there are ones that could pass in deep Southern Europe or Northwest South Asia.

However, in regards to Pakistani Pashtuns, I think that the number that could pass as Northwest South Asians in comparison to Afghan ones increases. I think that has a lot to do with their demeanor and "desified" culture to an extent. Regardless, most are relatively similar looking to Iranians although more rugged and mountainous looking.

[DrKirkNoliss]

Gavroche does it again

[bribiaLaubysdggf]

With a little more work done, she could pass as Portuguese. Maybe even a Bracari Celt. Looks a lot like Nelly Furtado.

not alike but she does share traits with nelly furtado .