Early years and education Ziroat Mirziyoyeva was born Ziroat Hoshimova in the Uzbek city of
Kokand into an influential and religious family. Her father was head of the Central Asian railway's supply department, which managed the 'Dorrestoran' catering and dining cars. Mirziyoyeva enrolled at
TIIAME, where she met
Shavkat Mirziyoyev, an employee of the university and its
Komsomol secretary. Her family initially opposed their relationship, but eventually approved the marriage.
Mehriban Aliyeva meeting with Mirziyoyeva, 2022 During presidency of
Islam Karimov, Mirziyoyeva, as well as all her family members, lived a private life and did not participate in official events for fear of possible persecution by the president. The first mention of Ziroat Mirziyoyeva appeared in Shavkat Mirziyoyev's official biography only in November 2016, when he became a presidential candidate after Karimov's death. == Family ==