Zira

### Enemies

Simba, Nala, Kiara, Kovu, Timon, Pumbaa, Rafiki, Zazu, Pridelanders, Vitani, Outsiders, Kion, Jasiri and her clan, Madoa, Tunu and Wema, Bunga, Ono, Beshte, Fuli

## Association Information

### Affiliations

Outsiders (formerly)
Outlanders
Simba's Pride (formerly)
Pride Landers (formerly)

**Zira** was a lioness in *The Lion Guard*. She is Nuka, Vitani and Kovu's mother and the former leader of the Outsiders, who all lived in the Outlands.

## Appearance

Zira is a thin, fully grown lioness with dusty brown fur and a notch on one of her striped ears. Her angular eyes are red, and her nose is black. The fur on either side of her face is long, forming two triangular points. Her muzzle is also longer than the average lion's, with the fur at the end of her chin scruffy. Her claws are always extended.

## Personality

Zira was sneaky and devious, feigning hospitality on numerous occasions in an attempt to get someone to side with her. She was set in her beliefs and cannot be swayed. Zira also loathed hyenas. Additionally, she believed that lions should rule with an iron fist, as opposed to being benevolent to all living creatures. She did not have much respect for the Circle of Life. She could be violent and even ruthless enough to kill a cub, if it didn't do her bidding. She was also very manipulative, as shown as she successfully tricked Jasiri into believing that Kion has joined her pride, and displayed a vaguely reasonable demeanor to Kion before she revealed her truly vicious and wicked self in vengeful response to Kion's statement that Scar was never the rightful King.

## History

### Early life

Zira lived in the Pride Lands. She was a member of Scar's pride. When she was younger, Zira formed a close friendship with Scar, who taught her all about the Roar of the Elders. During this time, Zira came to greatly admire him and believe that he deserved to be the king of Pride Rock.

Seasons later, after Scar murdered Mufasa and became the new king of Pride Rock, Zira was one of the few lionesses in the pride who supported Scar's reign. At some point, she bore three cubs: Kovu, Nuka, and Vitani. Since he lacked a lineal descendant, Scar chose Kovu, Zira's youngest son, to be his heir and protégé.

Eventually, Simba returned to the Pride Lands from his self-imposed exile and reclaimed his birthright. Despite Scar's death and Simba's coronation, Zira refused to acknowledge Simba's title, blamed him for Scar's death, and asserted that Kovu was the rightful king. Simba retorted that Scar had never been the true king, which prompted Zira to attack him. Simba won easily, after which he exiled Zira, her family, and her followers to the Outlands under the penalty of death should they return.

While in exile, Zira raised her cubs to resent the Pride Landers and blame Simba for Scar's deposition and death.

## Family

* Nuka: Oldest Son †
* Vitani: Daughter
* Kovu: Youngest Son
* Kiara: Daughter-in-Law

## Trivia

* Director Darrell Rooney stated that Zira was originally conceived as Scar's mate and queen. However, their relationship was purposely obscured in the middle of production to make her "just a follower" due to the incestuous undertones Kovu's romance with Kiara would have had.
* Zira and Kovu's relationship was inspired by the 1962 film *The Manchurian Candidate*, in which a mother brainwashes her son into becoming an assassin.
* Zira's name means "hate, detest, despise, loathe" or "abstain, stop, give up, cease to" in Swahili.
* Like the other Outsiders, Zira keeps her claws extended at all times.