Designer. Beauty Artist. Storyteller. Entrepreneur.
Samira Atash is an award-winning designer, beauty entrepreneur, artist, color analyst and cultural storyteller whose 25+ year career has spanned runways, film/tv sets, global artisan collaborations, events and award-winning beauty ventures. Known for building meaningful brands with purpose, Samira has dedicated her career to launching niche businesses, empowering women, promoting positive self-identity, preserving culture, and celebrating heritage.
Fashion with a Mission
Samira began her career as a fashion designer in New York City. In 2001, she launched her first self-funded contemporary evening wear label Samira Designs, which sold to upscale boutiques across the U.S. and earned a front-page feature in The Washington Post, coverage on Oxygen TV, and a nomination from Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award.
In 2002, her design was featured in the blockbuster Men in Black II. She then launched It’s A Miracle Maternity, a stylish maternity e-boutique that also was found in over 60+ boutiques and supported maternal health programs. Her third label, SAMIRA ATASH, inspired by the tribal embroidery of the Silk Road and rooted in fair trade, earned her a second Rising Star nomination and garnered praise for blending fashion with heritage.The designs were featured in Fashion Week and worn by well known figures and celebrities.
Samira’s experience also includes designing uniforms for the UAE’s largest telecom company (Etisalat), serving as Fashion Director for Zeba Magazine, and working as a film costume designer, including a historical research project focused on 13th century Islamic and Central Asian clothing. Her design was featured on National Geographic TV and showcased in a prominent Washington D.C. gallery
Beauty Meets Precision
In 2012, Samira entered the beauty space by launching FLOW Blow Dry + Beauty Bar, Northern Virginia’s first-ever blowout bar. FLOW quickly became a local industry leader expanding to multiple locations and also offering on location bridal & party hair/makeup services. FLOW earned multiple honors including Best Blowout (3 years in a row) from Northern Virginia Magazine, Best New Business, Best of the City (DC Luxury Magazine), and Best of Suburbia. FLOW also provided hair styling/blowout and makeup services for local influencers and events, Redskins/Commanders wives, news anchors, industry leaders, television/print, editorials and runway shows. Samira created a popular brow bar within the salons that offered eyebrow shaping services, which opened the door to the world of microblading.
In 2016, she launched Samira Brow Couture, a state-board DPOR licensed studio dedicated to microblading and permanent makeup. Over the past 9.5 years, she has trained artists on the art of microblading and the business of permanent makeup. Samira specializes in natural, timeless results, holding over 15 certifications in permanent makeup including microblading, combo brows, eyeliner and lip blush tattoo enhancements. She became the first certified Phibrows Royal Artist in the Washington D.C. area, trained with master global artists, and has been featured on HUDA Beauty. Her studio expanded to multiple locations including Orange County (CA) and has received accolades including Best of Loudoun County (2023/24, Best of Northern Virginia (2025), and Best of Washington D.C (2025). The studio is also a space where women can look and feel confident, including sbc Beautique and sbc LINKS jewelry.
Entrepreneurship with Heart
Giving back has always been at the heart of Samira’s journey. As the founder of RUMI ROSE, she created a product line of fashion, accessories, vintage finds, beauty, and jewelry with a purpose. Proceeds directly support children’s education and women’s entrepreneurship programs in Kabul through her ongoing sponsorship of Nooristan Foundation’s 'Enlighten A Mind' and 'Encourage an Entrepreneur' initiatives. Samira has led digital campaigns and helps organize impactful events including embassy soirées, cultural galas, fashion shows, book talks, and fundraisers that have raised both awareness and critical funds. Through her beauty businesses, Samira also extends her support locally by donating gift cards and fiscally sponsoring schools, charities, and organizations that address pressing needs such as cancer research, domestic violence prevention, homeless and hunger relief, human trafficking.
Culture, Media & Storytelling
Samira is the Creator and Executive Producer of the award-nominated Beauty and the East TV, content and upcoming podcast that connects East and West through stories of entrepreneurship, identity, history and cultural heritage. She was the Co-Founder of PlanetPix Media, a multicultural entertainment company, and the creator of FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme!, a touring comedy show uniting audiences through laughter.
In 2020, she launched the successful TikTok series Afghanistan History + Culture, exploring Afghan fashion, Islamic textiles, Orientalism, and beauty rituals with a global reach. She is currently working on an illustrated book about Afghanistan’s fashion and textile history— another first of its kind. In 2022, Samira earned a certification from Oxford University in Islamic Art + Architecture, which she enjoys studying in her free time.
In the past, Samira starred in the acclaimed film FireDancer, the first Afghan-American film to be entered into the Academy Awards and the Tribeca Film Festival. She has worked on major productions like Salt and Law & Order and has been featured in media outlets including The Washington Post, National Geographic TV, Oxygen TV, NBC, ABC, CBS, Great Day Washington, and Good Day D.C.
Beauty for Good
Through her Beauty for Good Project, Samira gives back locally and globally, supporting women facing hair loss, cancer, and domestic violence, as well as education and economic programs in Afghanistan. Her mission is clear: use beauty, culture, and storytelling to uplift others.
Coaching & Education
Samira has directly helped beauty professionals including permanent makeup artists, lash technicians, estheticians, and hair stylists grow from zero clients to fully booked schedules. She has also coached others to launch their own businesses through mentorship, coaching, training, marketing and support, guiding them from a simple business idea to launching their own startups.
Samira has helped launch multiple start-ups through her consulting work in branding, marketing, and creative direction, and holds a B.S. in Marketing with honors from George Mason University. Her background also includes studies at Parsons School of Design, FIT, the Esthetics Institute, and Oxford University (Islamic Art + Architecture).
Awards & Recognition
Best of Washington D.C. (DC Modern Luxury, July/August 2025)
DC Modern Luxury Magazine’s 2025 “Power Player”
Best Blowout – 3 Years in a Row
Awarded by Northern Virginia Magazine
Northern Virginia Magazine’s “Women Making the Mark” (July 2025)
Best of Loudoun County (Loudoun Times Miror, 2023-2025)
Best New Business
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Best of Northern Virginia (Northern Virginia Magazine, July 2025)
Best New Business, Best of the City, Best of Suburbia (FLOW Beauty Bar)
