Iman Abdulmajid Biography

(Somali Model, Actress, Philanthropist and Widow of Rock Musician David Bowie )

Birthday: July 25, 1955 (Leo)

Born In: Mogadishu, Somalia

Iman Abdulmajid, who is known professionally as by her first name, is a supermodel as well as activist, businesswoman and actress. She was born in Somalia and raised well-educated by her progressive parents. She was discovered while attending college in Kenya by an American photographer and moved to the United States where her exotic looks set her apart on the runway and in fashion magazines. She had a successful career, serving as a muse for several well-known photographers and designers and was considered a mega-success because she was able to excel at both runway and print modeling. After 14 years of modeling, she retired and began focusing on charity work, developing her very successful makeup company for ethnic skin and other endeavors. She has also branched into acting in movies, music videos and on TV, as well as producing and hosting reality TV shows. She has also written an autobiography and another book, a guide to makeup and skin care for ethnic skin types. She is an advocate for children in third world countries as well as increasing the visibility of black women in modeling and other media. She has been married three times and has two children. She is currently married to famous rocker David Bowie.
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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid

Age: 68 Years, 68 Year Old Females

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: David Bowie, Spencer Haywood

father: Mohamed Abdulmajid

mother: Marian Abdulmajid

siblings: Elias Abdulmajid, Feisa Abdulmajid, Idil Abdulmajid, Nadia Abdulmajid

children: Alexandria Zahra Jones, Zulekha Haywood

Born Country: Somalia

Models American Women

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Females

Ancestry: Somali American

Notable Alumni: University Of Nairobi

City: Mogadishu, Somalia

More Facts

education: University Of Nairobi

awards: The BET Honors Service Award

Childhood & Early Life
Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid was born in Mogadishu, Trust Territory of Somalia and has four siblings.
Her parents were progressive for the region and gave her a masculine name in the hopes of helping her succeed in the future. She was sent to a Catholic school for a better education during her early years.
Her high school education was in Egypt after which she moved to Kenya to study political science at the University of Nairobi in 1973. She was discovered while at college by an American photographer named Peter Beard and moved to the United States to pursue a modeling career.
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Career
She began modeling in 1975 after being coaxed to move to the United States by American photographer Peter Beard. The next year, she took her first modeling assignment with ‘Vogue’ magazine.
She was treasured by designers for her exotic looks and served as a muse for Yves Saint Laurent, Donna Karan, Calvin Klein, and many other designers.
In 1989, she retired from modeling, saying it was not fulfilling. She refocused on developing businesses and her charitable work.
She led the production of a documentary that chronicled her return to Somalia in 1992 and she has since been a vocal advocate for women's rights in her home country and in other third world countries.
In 1994, she created her own makeup line ‘Iman Cosmetics’ which produces cosmetics for ethnic skin. She has expanded sales of her line of cosmetics from department stores to prestige and charity lines.
She has had several TV and movie roles. Her most notable parts were her role in the movies 'Out of Africa' and 'No Way Out’.
She published a guide to ethnic skin care and makeup 'The Beauty of Color’, in 2005. Two years later, she helped design and produce a clothing and accessory line, called ‘Global Chic’ for ‘Home Shopping Network’.
In the late 2000s, she produced and hosted TV shows 'Project Runway Canada' and 'The Fashion Show.'
She has been involved with several charitable organizations including Save the Children and the Children's Defense Fund. She broke off her connection with DeBeers in an effort to raise awareness about the ethics of the diamond industry.
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Major Works
In 2001, she wrote an autobiography 'I Am Iman' which tackles the issues she encountered about race and modeling during her career.
Iman wrote a guide to care and cosmetic tips for ethnic skin in her book 'The Beauty of Color.' The book was published in 2005.
In 2007, she produced and hosted 'Project Runway Canada' which won a ‘Gemini Award’.
Awards & Achievements
In 2010, she received the Council of Fashion Designers of America's ‘Fashion Icon Lifetime Achievement Award’ for her unique influence on the world of fashion.
Personal Life & Legacy
Iman has been married three times. She married a Somali man during her time in college and they split upon her moving to the United States to pursue her modeling career.
Her second marriage was to basketball player Spencer Haywood in 1977 and ended after ten years. A year after marrying Haywood, she gave birth to her daughter Zulekha Haywood.
In 1983, she was involved in a car accident that took her out of modeling for a period of time.
Her divorce from Spencer Haywood in 1987 was tense and the custody battle over their daughter lasted several years.
She is currently married to famous rocker David Bowie. They married in 1992 and had a daughter in 2000 named Alexandria Zahra Jones. She has one stepchild with Bowie.
Trivia
This supermodel can speak Somali, Arabic, Italian, French and English fluently.
This famous model-entrepreneur, is the first person to kiss Michael Jackson on screen in his music video "Remember the Time" in 1992.
This famous model made an appearance in 'Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.'

See the events in life of Iman Abdulmajid in Chronological Order

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Article Title
- Iman Abdulmajid Biography
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URL
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