Iman (model) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Iman
Iman Abdulmajid
Iman in 1994
Born	Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid (1955-07-25) 25 July 1955 (age 69) Mogadishu, Trust Territory of Somaliland
Occupation	Model actress businesswoman
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Hassan ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1975)​ Spencer Haywood ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1987)​ David Bowie ​ ​ (m. 1992; died 2016)​
Children	2
Modeling information
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Hair color	Dark brown
Agency	Tess Management (London)

Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, 25 July 1955), known simply as Iman, is a famous Somali-American model and actress. She has inspired many top fashion designers like Gianni Versace and Yves Saint Laurent. Iman is also well-known for her charity work. She was married to the musician David Bowie from 1992 until he passed away in 2016.

Early Life and Family

Iman was born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid in Mogadishu, Somalia. She grew up following the Muslim faith. Later, her grandfather suggested she change her name to Iman, which means "faith" in Arabic. He believed this name would help her succeed.

Iman's parents are Mariam and Mohamed Abdulmajid. Her father was a diplomat who worked as the Somali ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Her mother was a gynecologist, a doctor who specializes in women's health. Iman has four siblings: two brothers and two sisters. She was the first girl born in her family in six generations.

Iman lived with her grandparents when she was very young. At age four, she went to a boarding school in Egypt. She spent most of her childhood and teen years there. Because of political problems in Somalia, Iman's family moved to Kenya. She briefly studied political science at the University of Nairobi in 1975.

Iman's Amazing Career

Becoming a Supermodel

While at university, Iman was discovered by American photographer Peter Beard. She then moved to the United States to start her modeling career. Her first modeling job was for Vogue magazine in 1976. Soon, she appeared on the covers of many famous magazines. She quickly became known as a supermodel.

Iman was an instant hit in the fashion world. She had a long neck, a slender body, beautiful features, and copper-toned skin. However, she always said her looks were just typical for Somali people. She became a muse (an inspiration) for many famous designers. These included Halston, Gianni Versace, and Yves Saint-Laurent. Yves Saint-Laurent once called her his "dream woman." Iman also worked with top photographers like Helmut Newton and Annie Leibovitz.

Iman believes the support she got from designers helped her gain confidence. This was a time when being unique was valued. Models often played a big part in the creative process. Today, she is represented by TESS Management in London.

Starting Her Own Businesses

Iman Cosmetics

After nearly 20 years as a model, Iman started her own makeup company in 1994. She wanted to create makeup shades that were hard to find for women of color. She had a lot of experience mixing her own makeup for make-up artists to use on her. So, she was very involved in creating her products. She also became the face of her company. By 2010, Iman Cosmetics was a very successful business, making $25 million a year. Her foundations are very popular and are among the best-selling brands on the Walgreens website.

In 2012, Iman signed Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim, who founded the Mataano fashion company. They became brand ambassadors for her makeup line. In 2021, Iman launched her own perfume called "Love Memoir." The amber bottle's color reminds her of sunsets she shared with her husband. The bottle's shape looks like two stones. This is a nod to a spiritual tradition where people place flat stones to guide others. This tradition also helps with healing from sadness. Iman has done this ritual around her home.

Global Chic Fashion

Because she was so famous and popular, Iman was asked by the CEO of the Home Shopping Network (HSN) to create her own clothing line in 2007. Her childhood in Egypt and her time modeling for Halston inspired her. Her first collection featured embroidered, one-size-fits-all caftans. Her clothing line on HSN is called Global Chic.

Acting on TV and in Movies

Iman at the Metropolitan Opera opening night in 2006

Iman appeared in two episodes of Miami Vice. She played Dakotah in 1985 and Lois Blyth in 1988. She also had a guest role on The Cosby Show in 1985. In 1988, she was Marie Babineaux in an episode of In the Heat of the Night.

In the mid-2000s, Iman hosted Project Runway Canada for two years on Bravo TV. In 2010, she also started hosting The Fashion Show with her friend, designer Isaac Mizrahi.

Iman first acted in the 1979 British film The Human Factor. She had a small part in the 1985 Oscar-winning movie Out of Africa, which starred Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. She then played Nina Beka in the 1987 thriller No Way Out with Kevin Costner. The same year, she was Hedy in the comedy Surrender with Michael Caine.

In 1991, she worked on several films. These included Lies of the Twins and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. In Star Trek, she played a shapeshifting alien. In 1991, she appeared in The Linguini Incident with her future husband, David Bowie. She also had smaller roles in the 1991 comedy House Party 2 and the 1994 film Exit to Eden.

Video Game Appearance

Iman made a special appearance with her husband David Bowie in the 1999 video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul. In the game, she appears as one of the characters the player can become.

Helping Others: Philanthropy

Besides running her beauty company, Iman is very active in charity work. Since 2019, she has been the first Global Advocate for CARE. She works with CARE to help end poverty and ensure everyone lives with dignity. She is also a spokesperson for the Keep a Child Alive program. She works closely with the Children's Defense Fund.

Iman is also an Ambassador for Save the Children. She has helped raise awareness for their relief services in East Africa. Additionally, Iman works with the Enough Project to stop the global trade in conflict minerals. She played a big part in the campaign against blood diamonds. She ended her contract with the diamond company De Beers because of ethical concerns.

Awards and Recognition

Iman has received many awards for her long career in modeling and charity work. On June 7, 2010, she received a Fashion Icon lifetime achievement award. This special award is given by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). It honors someone whose unique style has greatly influenced fashion. Iman chose her friend, actress and former model Isabella Rossellini, to give her the award. Iman thanked her parents for giving her "a neck longer than any other girl on any go-see anywhere in the world."

Iman's Personal Life

Iman with her husband David Bowie in 2009

Iman is a Muslim. She has said that her faith has helped her through difficult times. She can speak five languages fluently: Somali, Arabic, Italian, French, and English. She also became an American citizen when she was in her twenties.

Iman was first married at age 18 to Hassan. He was a young Somali businessman and a hotel executive. This marriage ended a few years later when she moved to the United States for her modeling career. In 1977, she became engaged to American basketball player Spencer Haywood. They married soon after. Their daughter, Zulekha Haywood, was born in 1978. Iman later had a granddaughter through Zulekha. Iman and Spencer divorced in 1987.

In 1990, Iman met the English musician David Bowie on a surprise blind date in Los Angeles. A friend, hairdresser Teddy Antolin, set it up. Iman arrived at a restaurant, and there were only four people: Antolin, his boyfriend, Iman, and Bowie. At the end of the night, Bowie offered to drive her home, but she said she would drive her own car. He then invited her for tea the next day, and they went to a coffee shop. Bowie even named an instrumental music piece "Abdulmajid" after her.

On April 24, 1992, Iman and Bowie had a private wedding ceremony in Switzerland. They had a bigger celebration in Florence, Italy, on June 6. Their daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, was born on August 15, 2000, in New York City. Iman is also a stepmother to Bowie's son from a previous marriage, Duncan Jones. Both children use Bowie's legal last name. Iman and her family lived mainly in Manhattan and London. When David Bowie passed away in 2016, Iman wrote that "the struggle is real, but so is God."

Film and TV Roles

See also

In Spanish: Iman (modelo) para niños