I’ve always been intrigued to the unsung heroes who barely make an impression on history. One such individual is Portia Gilani. Her name appears in passing, connected to one of the most terrifying terrorist schemes of the twenty-first century, but she is virtually unnoticed outside of that one, tragic link. A short-lived wife, a makeup artist in New York, and a lady who once called the police to alert them about a man she loved. Her name was recorded in records that will reverberate for years after that one performance. However, very little is known about her personal history, day-to-day activities, or the family she was born into or created. I piece together what’s left, a half-light sketch of a portrait, in the absence of public records.
The Woman Behind the Name
Portia Gilani lived much of her known life in New York City, where she worked as a makeup artist. Her hands shaped faces for television shows, weddings, and private clients. Names like The Real Housewives of New Jersey occasionally appear in credits linked to a Portia Peters, a name some reports use interchangeably with Gilani. Whether Peters was her maiden name or a professional alias, the detail remains unclear. What stands clear is her skill. She applied foundation, blended shadows, created illusions of perfection. Little did she know that her own life would soon demand a different kind of camouflage.
She met David Coleman Headley sometime before 2002. At that point, Headley had already changed his name from Daood Sayed Gilani, converted to a radical form of Islam, and begun working as an informant for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Portia entered his world during a period of intense personal and ideological flux. Their marriage, which began around 2002, was bigamous. Headley was still legally married to Shazia Gilani, a Pakistani woman he had wed in 1999. Portia either did not know or chose not to question the existing union. For roughly three years, she lived as one of two wives, a detail that only emerged later.
A Marriage Unraveled by Suspicion
Cracks had grown into chasms by 2005. Portia became concerned when she saw trends. Headley visited Pakistan on a regular basis. He mentioned organizations and causes that seemed risky. He frequently changed his appearance, possibly using the same techniques she used on a daily basis. A silent alarm sounded inside her, growing louder until she could no longer ignore it. She got in touch with the FBI in 2005. She talked about his travels, his connections, and the discomfort that had permeated her house like smoke. Although the authorities heard, nothing was done right away. The marriage ended in divorce within a few months. A man who would eventually explore targets for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives was left behind when Portia left.
Her life’s most public moment was that one phone call. Her place in the footnotes of a worldwide tragedy was likewise cemented. In 2012, Indian investigators attempted to interrogate her. Even as late as 2016, her name was included in court documents and trial testimony. However, she disappeared following the divorce. No memoirs, interviews, or social media footprints. In the story she helped uncover, she turned into a ghost.
Family Connections: A Web of Marriages and Children
Portia Gilani had no children with David Headley, at least none documented in public records. Her own family background remains entirely private. No parents, siblings, or extended relatives appear in any available accounts. She stands alone in the narrative, defined almost entirely by her brief marriage.
Headley’s family, however, sprawls across continents. He married four times, each union adding layers to a complicated personal history.
Here is a clear overview:
| Spouse | Marriage Period | Key Details | Children |
|---|---|---|---|
| First wife (name withheld) | 1985–1987 | American student; marriage ended due to differences | None known |
| Shazia Gilani | 1999–present | Pakistani origin; based in Chicago | Four: Haider, Osama, Sumya, Hafsa |
| Portia Gilani (possibly Peters) | ~2002–2005 | New York makeup artist; bigamous marriage | None known |
| Faiza Outalha | 2007–? | Moroccan medical student | None known |
Shazia Gilani bore the majority of Headley’s children. The four siblings grew up in the United States, largely shielded from the public eye after their father’s arrest in 2009. Haider and Osama, the sons, would have been teenagers during the Mumbai trial period. Sumya and Hafsa, the daughters, were younger. None of them have spoken publicly about their father or his crimes.
Faiza Outalha’s marriage overlapped with Headley’s deepening involvement in Lashkar-e-Taiba. She too eventually distanced herself, though details remain sparse. Portia’s place in this lineup is unique. She was neither the first nor the last wife, yet she was the one who raised the alarm. In a family defined by secrecy and division, her decision to speak stands as the sharpest fracture.
Professional Life in the Shadows
Portia continued her work as a makeup artist after the divorce. She likely returned to the quiet rhythm of brushes and palettes, transforming faces for reality television and private events. No major promotions, no business ownership, no public accolades appear in the record. Her career remained steady, unremarkable, a deliberate contrast to the storm that had briefly engulfed her.
She may have changed her name again or moved cities. Privacy became her shield. In a world obsessed with visibility, she chose the opposite. That choice feels almost defiant.
A Timeline of Intersections
- 1985–1987: Headley’s first marriage to an American student ends.
- 1999: Headley marries Shazia Gilani.
- ~2002: Portia Gilani marries Headley in a bigamous union.
- 2005: Portia contacts the FBI and divorces Headley.
- 2007: Headley marries Faiza Outalha.
- 2008: Mumbai attacks occur; Headley had scouted targets.
- 2009: Headley arrested in the United States.
- 2012: Indian authorities request access to Portia for questioning.
- 2016: Her name surfaces again during Headley’s testimony in Mumbai court.
These dates form the skeleton of her public story. The flesh, the daily texture of her life, remains hidden.
FAQ
Who is Portia Gilani today?
No recent public information exists. After her 2005 divorce and FBI contact, she disappeared from media coverage. She likely continues a private life, possibly still working in makeup artistry.
Did Portia Gilani have children with David Headley?
No children are documented from their marriage.
What happened after Portia contacted the FBI?
The FBI received her information but did not act immediately. Headley continued his activities until his 2009 arrest. Her call later became a point of discussion in investigations into intelligence failures.
Why is so little known about Portia Gilani’s own family?
She maintained a low profile. No records mention parents, siblings, or extended relatives. Privacy laws and her own choices likely kept those details out of the public domain.
Was Portia Gilani ever questioned by investigators?
Indian authorities requested access in 2012, but no confirmation exists that questioning occurred. She has never spoken publicly about the events.
How did Portia Gilani meet David Headley?
The exact circumstances remain unknown. They married around 2002 while he lived part-time in the United States.
