‘Am I on television?': Steve McCurry's cameo in girls' dance video wins hearts on the Internet

Indian Express

31-05-2025

It's not every day that you end up dancing on the streets of Venice with a legendary photographer, without even realising it. But that's what happened in a now-viral Instagram reel that's left the Internet grinning. The video opens with two girls filming a dance to a trending audio clip against the dreamy backdrop of Venice. Midway through, iconic photojournalist Steve McCurry – behind the famed Afghan Girl portrait – wanders into the frame.
Startled, the girls pause their routine. McCurry, curious and smiling, asks, 'Am I on television?' One of them laughs and explains it's just a Reel for Instagram. Then, McCurry steps up to the camera, says, 'Hi, welcome to Venice,' and sends a few flying kisses.
When the girls invite him to dance, he gladly joins – swaying and laughing, completely unbothered by the attention. The girls, meanwhile, had no idea who he was until the Reel went viral.
The Reel, shared by Instagram user @mukhlisaa_italy, is captioned, '@stevemccurryofficial truly honoured to meet you in person. Didn't realize I was in the presence of such talent. It was an unexpected and unforgettable moment.'
Since being posted, the video has garnered over 726,000 likes and 61,300 comments, with viewers across the world flooding the post with love.
A post shared by Мухлиса Абдуллаева (@mukhlisaa_italy)
Reacting to the video, one user said, 'This is the most beautiful reel I've seen so far.' Another wrote, 'You guys are lucky to have met him! He is a well-known photographer and photojournalist. His work has inspired many people all over the world.'
A third user wrote, 'He is so good and you are too cute,' while a fourth commented, 'This is so wholesome.'
McCurry, born on April 23, 1950, is best recognised for his iconic photograph 'Afghan Girl,' featuring a young girl with striking green eyes. The portrait graced the cover of the National Geographic magazine multiple times. Over the years, McCurry has completed numerous assignments for the magazine, and has been a member of the prestigious Magnum Photos agency since 1986.
McCurry has earned several prestigious honours, including the National Press Photographers Association's Magazine Photographer of the Year, the Centenary Medal from the Royal Photographic Society, and two first-place awards in the World Press Photo contest in 1985 and 1992.