Iman (model)

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Iman

Iman, September 25, 2006.
Birth name Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid
(Somali: Iimaan Maxamed Cabdimajiid)
Date of birth July 25, 1955 (1955-07-25) (age 52)
Place of birth Mogadishu, Somalia
Height 5 ft 8.5 in (1.74 m)
Hair color Black
Eye color Dark brown
Dress size 6 (US), 36 (EU)
Shoe size 8
Spouse(s) Spencer Haywood (1977-1987)
David Bowie (1992-present)
Official website

Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (Somali: Iimaan Maxamed Cabdimajiid; born July 25, 1955), professionally known as Iman, is a Somali-American supermodel. Iman is married to David Bowie.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Iman is the daughter of Marion and Mohamed Abdulmajid, a former Somali ambassador to Saudi Arabia. She is a Muslim and has two brothers, Elias and Feisal, and a sister, Nadia. Her cousin is Waris Dirie, a Somali supermodel and UN advocate. Iman attended high school in Egypt and later lived in Kenya, where her parents still reside. Fluent in five languages (Arabic, English, French, Italian, and Somali), she studied political science at the University of Nairobi.

[edit] Career

In 1975, Iman was recruited as a model by American photographer Peter Beard and relocated to the United States. Her first modeling assignment was for Vogue in 1976.

Yves Saint-Laurent famously said "My dream woman is Iman." She recalls her experience as a house model for Yves Saint Laurent's African Queen couture collection as the most memorable moment of her modeling career. [1]

An occasional actress, Iman played a shapeshifter named Martia in the 1991 hit film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and appeared in the Oscar-winning film Out of Africa alongside Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.

Iman guest-starred in an episode of Bravo's hit TV show Project Runway, where she wore contestant Daniel Vosovic's dress to a publicity shoot, and a Cycle 5 episode of America's Next Top Model as one of the weekly mentors. Iman is currently the host of Project Runway Canada on the Slice network.

In May 2007 Iman launched her signature line, IMAN Global Chic, on HSN. She is CEO of IMAN Cosmetics, Skincare & Fragrances, a line she launched to market a selection of products towards women of color.

Iman is a spokesperson for the Keep A Child Alive program, which provides drugs to HIV/AIDS children and families in Africa and the rest of the developing world.

She is signed to 1 Model Management in New York City.

[edit] Personal life

In 1977, Iman married American basketball player Spencer Haywood. Their daughter, Zulekha Haywood, was born in 1978; the couple divorced in February 1987. On April 24, 1992, she married iconic British musician David Bowie. They have one daughter, Alexandria Zahra "Lexi" Jones, born August 15, 2000. Iman is also stepmother to Bowie's son from a previous marriage, Duncan Jones. Both children bear Bowie's legal surname. Iman and her family reside primarily in Manhattan and London.

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role
1979 The Human Factor Sarah
1983 Exposed Model
1985 Out of Africa Mariammo
1987 No Way Out Nina Beka
Surrender Hedy
1991 L.A. Story Cynthia
Lies of the Twins (TV) Cat
House Party 2 Sheila Landreaux
The Linguini Incident Dali Guest
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Martia
1994 Heart of Darkness (TV) Black Beauty
Exit to Eden Nina Blackstone
1997 The Deli Avocado Lady

[edit] References

^  IQONS.com Iman interview for IQONS.com

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Iman
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Cabdimajiid, Iimaan; Abdulmajid, Iman
SHORT DESCRIPTION Supermodel
DATE OF BIRTH 1955-7-25
PLACE OF BIRTH Mogadishu, Somalia
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH