Zahira Zahir
Encyclopedia
Zahira Zahir is a Washington barber
and cosmetologist.
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.
Abdul Zahir, who was the Prime Minister of Afghanistan
from 1972 to 1972. She is also the older sister of Ahmad Zahir
, called the "Afghan Elvis". They belong to the Pashtun
ethnic group but like many others in Kabul they use Dari (Persian)
instead of Pashto
. Zahira is a graduate of, and later a teacher at, Zarghuna High School, reported to have been the leading school for girls in Kabul.
.
After the Communist coup
in 1978 her brother was murdered, her father put under house arrest, and all her family's assets were seized.
Around the time of the Communist coup in Afghanistan she and her husband separated.
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.
Zahira also started cutting George H. W. Bush
's hair, as well as Barbara Bush
, Reagan
, Margaret Thatcher
and other dignitaries. 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:
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.
Barber
A barber is someone whose occupation is to cut any type of hair, and to shave or trim the beards of men. The place of work of a barber is generally called a barbershop....
and cosmetologist.
Zahira's salon is in the Watergate hotel. She is known for cutting the hair of
United States President
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. The President's nickname for her is Z.
Early life
Zahira is the daughter ofAbdul Zahir, who was the Prime Minister of Afghanistan
Prime Minister of Afghanistan
The Prime Minister of Afghanistan is a currently defunct post in the Afghan Government.The position was created in 1927, and was appointed by the king, mostly as an advisor, until the end of the monarchy in 1973...
from 1972 to 1972. She is also the older sister of Ahmad Zahir
Ahmad Zahir
Ahmad Zahir was a singer, songwriter, and composer from Afghanistan. He is considered an icon of Afghan music and is sometimes called the "King of Afghan music"...
, called the "Afghan Elvis". They belong to the Pashtun
Pashtun people
Pashtuns or Pathans , also known as ethnic Afghans , are an Eastern Iranic ethnic group with populations primarily between the Hindu Kush mountains in Afghanistan and the Indus River in Pakistan...
ethnic group but like many others in Kabul they use Dari (Persian)
Dari (Persian)
Dari or Fārsī-ye Darī in historical terms refers to the Persian court language of the Sassanids. In contemporary usage, the term refers to the dialects of modern Persian language spoken in Afghanistan, and hence known as Afghan Persian in some Western sources. It is the term officially recognized...
instead of Pashto
Pashto language
Pashto , known as Afghani in Persian and Pathani in Punjabi , is the native language of the indigenous Pashtun people or Afghan people who are found primarily between an area south of the Amu Darya in Afghanistan and...
. Zahira is a graduate of, and later a teacher at, Zarghuna High School, reported to have been the leading school for girls in Kabul.
American life
Zahira moved to the United States in 1975, when her husband was Afghanistan's envoy to the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
After the Communist coup
Saur Revolution
The Saur Revolution is the name given to the Communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan takeover of political power from the government of Afghanistan on 28 April 1978. The word 'Saur', i.e...
in 1978 her brother was murdered, her father put under house arrest, and all her family's assets were seized.
Around the time of the Communist coup in Afghanistan she and her husband separated.
Zahira described working for Milton Pitts
Milton Pitts
Milton Pitts was the White House barber for Republican U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush....
, President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
's barber, accompanying him to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
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.
Zahira also started cutting George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
's hair, as well as Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush
Barbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She is the mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush and of the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush...
, Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
and other dignitaries. 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:
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.