Niloofar Rahmani, a 23 year old Afghanistan woman is the first female pilot to serve in her country’s airforce since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. And while for many, this might be a ‘kini big deal?’ story, try being a woman in Afghanistan.

Rahmani’s decision to be an unconventional woman by becoming a pilot earned her death threats from the Taliban and even members of her own family!

She was 18 when she heard an announcement that the Afghan Air Force was recruiting pilots, and according to Rahmani, being a pilot has been her dream since she was a little girl.

After studying English for a year, she enlisted in the Afghan Air Force Officer Training Program in 2010 and graduated as a Second Lieutenant in July 2012. But she didn’t stop there, she went on to attend advanced flight school so she could fly bigger aircrafts.

However, Rahmani isn’t doing all this for herself. In an interview with WTKR, she said, “You can’t just see yourself as a woman, but as a human and believe in yourself…. It was not easy finishing flight school, it was very hard, but someone had to accept the risk so that other women can do what they dream.”

Her selflessness and courage was exemplified when she flew injured soldiers to a hospital even though women are traditionally banned from transporting dead or wounded soldiers.

Captain Rahmani was honoured alongside nine other inspirational women from across the world by the U.S Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award 2015.

This beautiful, courageous, badass has become for women in Afghanistan a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration. We are inspired, and we hope she inspires you too!

inspirational