Who is Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid?

Early Life & Cultural Roots

Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid was born on July 25, 1955, in Mogadishu, Somalia, into a family that valued education, linguistics, and worldly perspective. Her father, Mohamed Abdulmajid, was a diplomat and served as Somalia’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, while her mother, Mariam, was a gynecologist — an unusual combination in post‑colonial Somalia that ensured Iman would grow up with both intellectual stimulation and a strong sense of public service.

From her earliest years, Iman’s life reflected the fluid movement between cultures and continents. At age four, she was sent to boarding school in Egypt — a decision that not only broadened her worldview but also immersed her in Arabic language and heritage. Later, political unrest in Somalia led her family to relocate to Kenya, where she attended the University of Nairobi, studying political science.

Her birth name Zara was changed to Iman — meaning faith in Arabic — at her grandfather’s request. He believed a name imbued with spiritual strength would shape her destiny.

Among her siblings, she was the first girl born in six generations — a detail that speaks to the traditional expectations of her lineage and underscores how extraordinary her later achievements would be.

Discovery & Breakthrough in Fashion

While still a student in Nairobi, Iman’s life took a dramatic turn when she was spotted by American photographer Peter Beard in 1975. Beard was smitten by her distinctive features — long neck, high cheekbones, deep complexion and elegant presence. At a time when Black models were rare on the world stage, Iman’s look was groundbreaking.

She moved to New York and, in 1976, appeared in her first editorial for Vogue — a debut that launched her career. Her rise was swift: covers of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and leading beauty campaigns soon followed.

Iman didn’t just model — she redefined beauty. In an era when Western beauty standards dominated globally, she represented a powerful alternative: a Black African woman at the pinnacle of fashion. Designers such as Yves Saint Laurent called her his “dream woman”, and she became muse to fashion giants including Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Halston and Issey Miyake. Photographers like Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and Annie Leibovitz captured her on film; her images helped expand perceptions of beauty far beyond Eurocentric norms.

Her success came during a pivotal era for modeling — the rise of the supermodel — and Iman stood among the earliest Black women to gain global fame on that stage.

Modeling Legacy & Cultural Influence

Iman’s impact was more than aesthetic; it reshaped industry structures. In the 1970s and 1980s, she challenged the exclusionary practices of fashion houses and magazines that rarely featured Black models prominently. Her career opened doors for future generations of models from Africa and the global diaspora.

Her presence on magazine covers and runways didn’t just sell clothes — it introduced the world to a broader vocabulary of beauty. The fashion industry began, slowly but irrevocably, to acknowledge that beauty is not monolithic.

By defying entrenched norms, Iman became a symbol of possibility. For Black women watching from across the globe — from Harlem to Nairobi — her ascent affirmed that beauty was universal and that excellence could transcend cultural boundaries.

Acting, Media & Public Persona

While Iman’s core identity was rooted in fashion, she didn’t confine herself to modeling alone. She ventured into acting and media, appearing in films and television from the late 1970s onward. Titles she featured in include The Human Factor (1979), Out of Africa (1985), No Way Out (1987), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), and a variety of television roles.

She also hosted fashion‑oriented programs, such as Project Runway Canada and The Fashion Show, sharing insights with audiences and fostering appreciation for fashion’s creative processes.

Through these appearances, Iman broadened the reach of her voice — showing that she was not just a muse for designers, but a presence who could navigate storytelling, performance, and cultural dialogue.

Entrepreneurship & IMAN Cosmetics

One of Iman’s most transformative ventures was her leap into the world of business.

In 1994, she launched IMAN Cosmetics, one of the first beauty lines specifically designed to address the needs of women of color — a market that had long been overlooked or underserved by major beauty brands.

At first, large retailers were skeptical, often relegating her product line to marginal sections of their stores. But Iman pushed back, insisting that ethnic beauty products deserved prominence — not enclosure.

Her persistence paid off. IMAN Cosmetics became a multi‑million‑dollar enterprise, with sales reportedly reaching estimated annual figures in the tens of millions of dollars and availability in more than 10 countries.

Her success was not just financial — it was cultural. IMAN Cosmetics helped change the way the beauty industry viewed and marketed to women with darker skin. By demonstrating that inclusivity made economic sense, she influenced how other brands would approach diversity in subsequent decades.

Written Works & Thought Leadership

Iman is also a published author. Her books, I Am Iman (2001) and The Beauty of Color (2005), offer readers both memoir and reflection — blending personal narrative with broader commentary on beauty, identity, and cultural representation.

In her writing, Iman speaks candidly about her journey: the triumphs, the struggles, and the deeper meanings of beauty beyond surface aesthetics — urging readers to consider beauty as rooted in character, resilience, and self‑perception.

Philanthropy, Activism & Humanitarian Work

Long after her peak on the runway, Iman sustained a vibrant commitment to humanitarian causes.

Focus on Africa & Global Crises

Iman has been involved with multiple charitable campaigns focused on Africa, children’s welfare, education, and health. She has worked with organizations such as CARE International, serving as its first ever Global Advocate to promote dignity, security, and poverty alleviation globally.

She has been a spokesperson for the Keep a Child Alive program, supported Save the Children, worked with the Children’s Defense Fund, and raised awareness about relief services for East Africa.

Ethical Leadership & Conflict Advocacy

Iman also took a principled stand in the campaign against blood diamonds — unwittingly becoming a voice against unethical practices in global mining and trade. In protest, she terminated her contract with the diamond giant De Beers, spotlighting the morality of sourcing and consumer responsibility.

Her philanthropic efforts extend to women’s rights and girls’ education, with a focus on creating opportunities where gendered and economic inequities often intersect.

Personal Life: Love, Family & Identity

Iman’s private life has been marked by love, family, resilience, and cultural rootedness intertwined with cosmopolitan living.

Her first marriage at age 18 to a Somali man ended when she pursued her modeling career in the United States. In 1977, she married American basketball star Spencer Haywood, with whom she had her daughter Zulekha Haywood in 1978. The marriage ended in divorce in 1987.

In 1990, Iman met English musician David Bowie. Their connection was serendipitous — a blind date in Los Angeles set up by a friend — and led to a deep partnership. They married in 1992 and remained devoted until Bowie’s passing in 2016. Together they welcomed their daughter, Alexandria Zahra “Lexi” Jones, in 2000.

Iman also became stepmother to Bowie’s son, director Duncan Jones, forming a blended family that traversed art, culture, and parenthood.

Language, Faith & Cultural Identity

Fluent in five languages — Somali, Arabic, Italian, French, and English — Iman embodies a richly transnational identity. Raised Muslim and deeply connected to her Somali heritage, she has spoken about how faith and cultural roots sustained her through personal and public challenges.

Her ability to move between cultural spheres — African, Arab, European, and American — enriched her perspective and enabled her to bridge worlds with empathy, dignity, and influence.

Legacy & Ongoing Influence

Even decades after her modeling prime, Iman’s influence endures:

She received the Fashion Icon Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2010, a testament to her lasting impact on the fashion world.
Her brands continue to be recognized for pioneering inclusive beauty.
She remains a mentor and moral voice for emerging talents and activists.
In events like the 2025 Fashion Awards, she continues to grace the stage, share wisdom, and inspire new generations of designers and models.

Iman’s philosophy about beauty — that it extends beyond mere appearance to encompass authenticity, dignity, and social consciousness — has left a permanent imprint not just on fashion, but on broader cultural narratives about identity and representation.

Conclusion: Iman as Enduring Symbol

From Mogadishu to Manhattan, from small stages to global platforms, Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid’s life reflects the power of vision, courage, and compassion.