Iman (model)

**Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid** (Somali: *Iimaan Maxamed Cabdulmajiid*; dem born am **Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid**, 25 July 1955), wey dem know am mononymously as **Iman**, be Somali-American model den actress. A muse of de designers Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, den Yves Saint Laurent, dem sanso note am for ein philanthropic work. Na she marry musician David Bowie from 1992 til ein death insyd 2016.

## Early life
Na dem Iman Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid (Somali: *Zara Maxamed Cabdulmajiid*) insyd Mogadishu wey na dem raise am as a Muslim. Na dem later rename am Iman, wey dey mean "faith" insyd Arabic at ein grandpoppie ein urging, wey believe she go "prosper" plus a masculine name. Iman be de daughter of Mariam den Mohamed Abdulmajid. Na ein poppie, a diplomat, be de Somali ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wey na ein mommie be gynecologist. She get four siblings: two bros den two sistos, wey na she be de first girl for ein family insyd six generations of sons.

Iman live plus ein grandparents during ein formative years. At age four na dem send am go boarding school insyd Egypt, wer na she spend chaw of ein kiddie time den adolescence. Dey follow political unrest insyd Somalia, Iman ein poppie move de family back to de country. At ein behest, na she den ein mommie den siblings subsequently travel go Kenya wey na later ein poppie den kiddie sis join dem. She briefly study political science at de University of Nairobi insyd 1975.

## Career
### Modeling
While na she dey university, Iman be discovered by American photographer Peter Beard, wey she move go de United States make she begin a modeling career. Na ein first modeling assignment be give *Vogue* a year later insyd 1976. She soon appear for de cover of sam of de world ein most prestigious magazines, wey she establish einself as a supermodel.

### Business

#### Iman Cosmetics
After almost two decades of modeling, Iman start ein own cosmetics firm insyd 1994, wey dey focus for difficult-to-find shades give women. Base for ein years of experience wey dey mix ein own formulations for make-up artists make dem use for ein top, na she be closely involved plus de final product wey she sanso act as de commercial face of de company. Na Iman Cosmetics be a $25-million-a-year business by 2010. E dey center for $14.99 foundations insyd four formulations den 14 shades, wey ebe among de top-selling foundation brands for Walgreens website top.

#### Global Chic
Secof ein marketability den high profile, na Iman be approached insyd 2007 by de CEO of de Home Shopping Network (HSN) make she create a clothing design line. Inspire by ein kiddie time insyd Egypt den modeling time plus Halston, Iman ein first collection introduce embroidered, one-size-fits-all caftans. Ein collection for HSN be called *Global Chic*.

#### Television

Iman appear insyd two episodes of *Miami Vice*, wey she dey play Dakotah insyd *Back in the World* (1985) den Lois Blyth insyd *Love at First Sight* (1988). Na she sanso get a guest role as Mrs. Montgomery for *The Cosby Show* (1985). Insyd 1988, she appear as Marie Babineaux insyd an episode of *In the Heat of the Night*.

Insyd de mid-2000s, na Iman spend two years as de host of Bravo TV ein fashion-themed show, *Project Runway Canada*. Insyd November 2010, along plus ein paddie den colleague, designer Isaac Mizrahi, Iman sanso begin dey host de second season of *The Fashion Show*. Bravo start de series make she replace ein former hit *Project Runway* wey now dem move go de Lifetime network.

#### Film
Iman first feature insyd de 1979 British film *The Human Factor*, wey she get a bit part insyd de 1985 Oscar-winning film *Out of Africa* wey dey star Robert Redford den Meryl Streep. She then portray Nina Beka insyd de 1987 thriller *No Way Out* plus Kevin Costner, den Hedy insyd de Michael Caine comedy *Surrender* de same year.

During ein first year insyd Hollywood, insyd 1991, she work for chaw film productions insyd. Na among dem be de Tim Hunter-directed *Lies of the Twins* den *Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country*, wer na she play a shapeshifting alien. Insyd 1991, she appear insyd *The Linguini Incident* opposite ein then-fiancé David Bowie. Na she get a smaller part insyd de 1991 comedy *House Party 2* den insyd de 1994 comedy/romance film *Exit to Eden*.
### Video games
Iman make a cameo appearance alongsyd ein husby David Bowie insyd de 1999 Windows 9x den Dreamcast 3D adventure game, *Omikron: The Nomad Soul*, develop by de video game company, Quantic Dream. Insyd de game, she dey appear as one of de chaw Omikronian citizens de player fi "reincarnate" into.

### Philanthropy
For addition to running ein global beauty company, Iman sanso be actively involved insyd a number of charitable endeavors. Since September 2019, na Iman hold de role of CARE ein first-ever Global Advocate, wer she dey work alongsyd CARE make she support ein mission make dem create a world wer na dem overcam poverty wey all people live plus dignity den security. She sanso currently be a spokesperson give de Keep a Child Alive program, wey she dey work closely plus de Children's Defense Fund. She sanso dey serve as an Ambassador give Save the Children, wey na she be active for raising awareness of dema relief services insyd de greater East Africa region. Additionally, Iman dey work plus de Enough Project make e end de global trade insyd conflict minerals. Na she play a key part insyd de public campaign against blood diamonds thru ein termination of ein contract plus de diamonds conglomerate De Beers over a conflict of ethics.

## Awards
Over de course of ein long modeling den philanthropic career, Iman receive chaw awards. For 7 June 2010, she receive a *Fashion Icon* lifetime achievement award wey komot de Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a special prize dem reserve give "an individual whose signature style has had a profound influence on fashion". Na Iman select ein paddy, actress den former model Isabella Rossellini, make she present de award. She wear gown design by Giambattista Valli plus four giant diamond bracelets for each arm, Iman thank ein parents "for giving me a neck longer than any other girl on any go-see anywhere in the world".
## Ein life matter

Iman be Muslim. She credit ein faith plus e help am thru dark times. She be fluent insyd five languages: Somali, Arabic, Italian, French, den English. She sanso obtain American citizenship wen na she dey insud ein twenties.

## Bibliography

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

## Filmography

## References


## External links

* Iman – official site
*  at IMDb
* Iman at de TCM Movie Database 
* Iman Abdulmajid at Fashion Model Directory 
* Iman at NYmag.com
* Iman Cosmetics
* Portraits of Iman at de National Portrait Gallery, London