Iman (model)

Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (Template:Langx; born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, 25 July 1955<ref name=":0" />), known mononymously as Iman, is a Somali-American model and actress. A muse of the designers Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Yves Saint Laurent, she is also noted for her philanthropic work. She was married to athlete Spencer Haywood from 1977 to 1987 and musician David Bowie from 1992 until his death in 2016.

Early life

Iman Mohamed was born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid (Template:Langx) in Mogadishu and raised as a Muslim. She was later renamed Iman, meaning "faith" in Arabic<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> at her grandfather's urging, who believed she would "prosper" with a masculine name.<ref name="Hendrikse">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Iman is the daughter of Mariam and Mohamed Abdulmajid.<ref name=":0">Iman, Peter Hill Beard, David Bowie, I Am Iman, p. 11.</ref> Her father, a diplomat, was the Somali ambassador to Saudi Arabia,<ref name="Ottawa">Supermodel Iman is Ottawa bound for TV show Template:Webarchive. Canada.com (25 June 2008). Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> and her mother was a gynecologist.<ref name="Woaima">Women of Achievement – Iman. Thelizlibrary.org. Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> She has four siblings: two brothers and two sisters, and was the first girl in her paternal family in six generations of sons.<ref>Iman, Peter Hill Beard, David Bowie, I Am Iman, p. 17.</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Iman Mohamed lived with her grandparents during her formative years. At age four she was sent to boarding school in Egypt, where she spent most of her childhood and adolescence.<ref name=Hendrikse/><ref name="NJAPF">Template:Cite web</ref> Following political unrest in Somalia, Iman's father moved the family back to the country. At his behest, she and her mother and siblings subsequently traveled to Kenya and were later joined by her father and younger sister.<ref name=Hendrikse/> She briefly studied political science at the University of Nairobi in 1975.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Career

Modeling

While she was at university, Iman Mohamed was discovered by American photographer Peter Beard, and moved to the United States to begin a modeling career.<ref name="Ottawa"/><ref>Iman - Profiles - Project Runway Canada Template:Webarchive. Slice.ca. Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> Her first modeling assignment was for Vogue a year later in 1976. She soon appeared on the cover of some of the world's most prestigious magazines, establishing herself as a supermodel.<ref name="Ottawa"/>

With her long neck, slender figure, fine features, and copper-toned skin, Iman Mohamed was an instant success in the fashion world, though she herself insists that her looks are merely typically Somali. She became a muse to many prominent designers, including Halston, Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, Issey Miyake and Donna Karan.<ref name="NJAPF"/><ref name="PRC">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="NChap">New Chapters for Iman. Los Angeles Times. (24 December 2001). Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> She was a favourite of Yves Saint-Laurent, who once described her as his "dream woman".<ref>Beauty Icon: Iman. Style.com. Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> Iman has worked with photographers including Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Annie Leibovitz.<ref name="PRC" />

Iman Mohamed credits the nurturing she received from various designers with having given her the confidence to succeed in an era when individuality was valued and model-muses were often an integral part of the creative process.<ref name="NJAPF" /> She is represented by TESS Management in London.<ref name="Tess">Iman Portfolio Template:Webarchive. Tess Management. Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref>

Business

After almost two decades of modeling, Iman started her own cosmetics firm in 1994, focusing on difficult-to-find shades for women.<ref name="Wwnnf">Template:Cite book</ref> Based on her years of experience mixing her own formulations for make-up artists to use on her, she was closely involved with the final product and also acted as the commercial face of the company. Iman Mohamed Cosmetics was a $25-million-a-year business by 2010.<ref name="NJAPF" /> In early 2012, Iman Mohamed signed fellow Somali designers Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim, founders of the Mataano fashion company, as brand ambassadors for her cosmetics line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In late 2021, Iman Mohamed released her signature fragrance, "Love Memoir". The color of the amber bottle is a nod to the sunsets she and her husband enjoyed. The shape of the bottle is a mimic of two stones, which references to a spiritual ritual where you place flat stones to guide people who come after you. The tradition is also connected to healing from grief. Iman Mohamed has done this ritual around her and David's property.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Iman Mohamed at the Metropolitan Opera opening night in 2006

Iman Mohamed appeared in two episodes of Miami Vice, playing Dakotah in "Back in the World" (1985) and Lois Blyth in "Love at First Sight" (1988). She also had a guest role as Mrs. Montgomery on The Cosby Show (1985). In 1988, she appeared as Marie Babineaux in an episode of In the Heat of the Night.<ref name="Imdb">Template:Cite webTemplate:Unreliable source?</ref> In the mid-2000s, Iman Mohamed spent two years as the host of Bravo TV's fashion-themed show, Project Runway Canada. In November 2010, along with her friend and colleague, designer Isaac Mizrahi, Iman Mohamed also began hosting the second season of The Fashion Show. Bravo started the series to replace its former hit Project Runway that had moved to the Lifetime network.<ref name="NJAPF"/><ref name="Sntfsuc">Sneak peek : 'The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection' Template:Webarchive. Denver.metromix.com. Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref>

Iman Mohamed's first film role was in the 1979 British film The Human Factor, and she had a bit part in the 1985 Oscar-winning film Out of Africa starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. She portrayed Nina Beka in the 1987 thriller No Way Out with Kevin Costner, and Hedy in the Michael Caine comedy Surrender the same year. During 1991, her first year in Hollywood, she worked on several film productions.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Among them were Tim Hunter’s Lies of the Twins and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, where she played a shapeshifting alien. In 1991, she appeared in The Linguini Incident opposite her then-fiancé David Bowie. She had a smaller part in the 1991 comedy House Party 2 and in the 1994 comedy/romance film Exit to Eden.<ref name="Imdb"/>

Video games

Iman Mohamed made a cameo appearance alongside her husband David Bowie in the 1999 Windows 9x and Dreamcast 3D adventure game Omikron: The Nomad Soul, developed by the video game company Quantic Dream. In the game, she appears as one of the numerous Omikronian citizens the player can "reincarnate" into.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Philanthropy

In addition to running her global beauty company, Iman Mohamed is also actively involved in a number of charitable endeavors. Since September 2019, Iman Mohamed has held the role of CARE's first-ever Global Advocate, where she works alongside CARE to support its mission to create a world where poverty has been overcome and all people live with dignity and security. She is also currently a spokesperson for the Keep a Child Alive program, and works closely with the Children's Defense Fund.<ref name="PRC"/> She also serves as an Ambassador for Save the Children, and has been active in raising awareness of their relief services in the greater East Africa region.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Additionally, Iman Mohamed works with the Enough Project to end the global trade in conflict minerals. She played a key part in the public campaign against blood diamonds through her termination of her contract with the diamonds conglomerate De Beers over a conflict of ethics.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Icdblier">Template:Cite news</ref>

Awards

Over the course of her long modeling and philanthropic career, Iman Mohamed has received many awards. On 7 June 2010, she received a Fashion Icon lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a special prize reserved for "an individual whose signature style has had a profound influence on fashion". Iman Mohamed selected her friend, actress and former model Isabella Rossellini, to present the award.<ref name="NJAPF"/><ref name="KJI">Dodes, Rachel (9 June 2010). Kors, Jacobs, Iman Mohamed Take Home Fashion Awards. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> Wearing a gown designed by Giambattista Valli with four giant diamond bracelets on each arm, Iman Mohamed thanked her parents "for giving me a neck longer than any other girl on any go see anywhere in the world".<ref name="KJI"/>

Personal life

Iman Mohamed with her husband David Bowie in 2009

Iman Mohamed is a Muslim. She has credited her faith with helping her through dark times.<ref name="Marshall">Template:Cite book</ref> She is fluent in five languages: Somali, Arabic, Italian, French, and English.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> She also obtained American citizenship when she was in her twenties.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Iman Mohamed was first married at age 18 to Hassan, a young Somali entrepreneur and Hilton hotel executive.<ref name=Imbebo>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The marriage ended a few years later when she moved to the US to pursue a modeling career.<ref name=Imbebo/> In 1977, Iman Mohamed dated the American actor Warren Beatty.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later that year, she became engaged to the American basketball player Spencer Haywood, and they married soon after. Their daughter, Zulekha Haywood (from whom she has a granddaughter), was born in 1978. In February 1987, the couple divorced.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 1990, Iman Mohamed met the English musician David Bowie on a surprise blind date set up by a friend in Los Angeles. The friend was hairdresser Teddy Antolin, who invited Iman to a party. When she arrived at the restaurant, there were only four attendees: Antolin, Antolin's boyfriend, Iman Mohamed, and Bowie. At the end of the evening, Bowie offered to drive her home, and she said: "No, I'm going to drive my car." He invited her to tea the next day and Iman learned he did not drink tea. They went to a nearby coffee shop.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bowie named his 1991 instrumental piece "Abdulmajid" after her, which was later converted into a symphony by Philip Glass.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

On 24 April 1992, Iman Mohamed married Bowie in a private ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland. The wedding was solemnized in Florence, Italy on 6 June.<ref name="Pegg">Template:Cite book</ref> Their daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, was born 15 August 2000 at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.<ref name="Fltnib">FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, 15 August 2000. E!.com (15 August 2000). Retrieved 9 May 2012.</ref> Iman Mohamed is also stepmother to Bowie's son from a previous marriage, Duncan Jones. Both children bear Bowie's legal surname. Iman Mohamed and her family resided primarily in Manhattan and London.<ref name="Fmdiman">Template:Cite web</ref> When Bowie died on 10 January 2016, she wrote in tribute to him that "the struggle is real, but so is God".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bibliography

• I Am Iman (2001)
• The Beauty of Color (2005)

Filmography

List of acting performances in film and television

Title	Year	Role
Template:Sortname	1979	Sarah
Exposed	1983	Model
"Do What You Do" music video	1984	Jermaine Jackson's love interest
Miami Vice	1985	Dakotah
The Cosby Show	1985	Mrs. Montgomery
Out of Africa	1985	Mariammo
No Way Out	1987	Nina
Surrender	1987	Hedy
In the Heat of the Night	1988	Marie Babineaux
Miami Vice	1988	Lois Blyth
227	1990	Eartha Kitten
House Party 2	1991	Sheila Landreaux
Lies of the Twins	1991	Cat/Elie
L.A. Story	1991	Cynthia
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country	1991	Martia
Template:Sortname	1991	Dali Guest
"Remember the Time" music video (Michael Jackson)	1992	Queen Nefertiti
Heart of Darkness	1994	Jungle bride<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Exit to Eden	1994	Nina
Project Runway season 2	2006	self
Project Runway Canada	2007	self
Project Runway Canada	2009	self
Template:Sortname	2010	self

External links

• Template:Official website - official site
• Template:IMDb name
• Template:Tcmdb name
• Template:Fashionmodel
• Template:NYmag model
• Iman Cosmetics
• Template:NPG name