Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid
Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid
- Born: September 25, 1955 in Mogadishu, Somalia
- Occupation: Model, actress, entrepreneur
- Known for: Being one of the first black models to achieve mainstream success, for her work with Yves Saint Laurent, for her marriage to David Bowie
- Net worth: $100 million
Life and career
Iman was born in Mogadishu, Somalia, to a diplomat father and a housewife mother. She has two sisters and one brother. Iman attended high school in Egypt and Kenya, and later moved to the United States to study political science at the University of Nairobi.
In 1975, Iman was discovered by a photographer while she was working as a waitress in New York City. She quickly became one of the most popular models in the world, and worked with some of the biggest names in fashion, including Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, and Gianni Versace.
In addition to her modeling career, Iman has also appeared in several films and television shows. She made her film debut in the 1979 movie The Human Factor, and has since appeared in Out of Africa (1985), The Cosby Show (1985-1992), and Project Runway (2004-2017).
In 1992, Iman married musician David Bowie. The couple had one child together, a daughter named Alexandria Zahra Jones. Bowie died of cancer in 2016.
Legacy
Iman is one of the most successful black models of all time. She has broken down barriers and paved the way for other black women in the fashion industry. She is also a successful businesswoman and philanthropist.
Awards and honors
- 1991: VH1 Fashion Awards Model of the Year
- 1992: Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Model of the Year
- 2004: Black Girls Rock! Icon Award
- 2010: Essence Awards Fashion Icon Award
- 2016: CFDA Lifetime Achievement Award
Personal life
Iman is a Muslim. She is also a vegan and an animal rights activist. She has two children, a daughter named Zulekha Haywood from her first marriage to basketball player Spencer Haywood, and a daughter named Alexandria Zahra Jones from her marriage to David Bowie.
