Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Interview With Steve McCurry

Aired March 13, 2002 - 14:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back in 1985, her face symbolized the plight of Afghan refugees, but no one even knew her name or where to find her. This photo of a young Afghan girl, 13 at the time, has become one of the most recognizable in "National Geographic's" history.

Seventeen years later, photographer Steve McCurry has tracked down the girl from that photo. The story is the subject of this week's "National Geographic Explorer" and also the cover story of next month's issue.

Steve McCurry, the photographer, is with us live today in New York City. Good to see you again, Steve. Good afternoon.

STEVE MCCURRY, "NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC": Thank you very much.

HEMMER: We talked back in late October or November about this very photograph, and you said at the time that nobody, despite repeated efforts, nobody had been able to track her down. What changed between then and now?

MCCURRY: Well, there was a special impetus to do it now. That camp that she grew up in is in the midst of being demolished. If you go back there in a few weeks or a few months, that camp's going to be gone.

HEMMER: This is in Pakistan, correct?

MCCURRY: That's correct. It's in the camp. It's just on the outskirts of Peshawar. This was really the last chance, the last opportunity to find this girl. I don't think a day has gone by in the last 17 years that I didn't get a letter or request from people wanting to adopt her.

HEMMER: Really, every day?

MCCURRY: Every day. It's just been an incredible outpouring all over the world.

HEMMER: Steve, cut to the chase here. How did you track her down?

MCCURRY: Well, I've been looking for her for around 10 years. We went to the camp and systematically talked to as many people as we could. The elders of that camp were very cooperative. We explained that we wanted to help her, do something special for her. After repeated attempts and lots of false leads, many people came out. One girl even claimed to be the girl. One man came forward and said, you know, that girl was my neighbor 10 years ago...

HEMMER: Come on.

MCCURRY: ... and I know where her brother lives. He's living in a small village in Afghanistan. So we immediately, you know, seized the opportunity. We gave them a little bit of money to go in, to find her for this bus, this taxi. We figured we'd never see him again. And lo and behold, three days later, he comes back not only with the brother but with her and her two infant daughters. So it was just incredible.

HEMMER: Was there any doubt once you saw her that this woman, now 17 years later, I think she's about 30 now, that indeed it was her?

MCCURRY: The moment I saw her, I instantly knew this is the girl. I mean, the eyes had the same intensity. The distinctive scar on the bridge of her nose was still there, the lips, the facial structure. I immediately knew this was the girl.

HEMMER: Listen, she never knew about the photo herself, right? So I'm assuming you showed it to her and when you did that, what happened?

MCCURRY: Well, she had never been photographed before that and has never been photographed since. She looked at the picture and being illiterate and not being familiar with magazines or newspapers in general was a little bit indifferent. She didn't know quite what to make of it. And when he we told her this picture had been seen virtually all the over the world, that she had come to, you know, inspire people and people had actually gained strength and had volunteered to help the refugees, she was surprised and pleased and amused by...

HEMMER: I bet she was amused. Reprinted in April, I understand, right, on the magazine's cover once again?

MCCURRY: Exactly.

HEMMER: OK. Steve McCurry, hey congratulations. I know the search has gone on for quite some time. Truly remarkable, now 30 years old. She has two daughters, I understand as well. Hey, Steve, thanks. Appreciate you coming in and spending time with us today.

MCCURRY: Thank you very much.

HEMMER: Steve McCurry of "National Geographic." Amazing stuff there.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com