Iman abdul majid biography of barack

Iman (model)

Somali model and actress

Iman

Iman in

Born

Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid


() 25 July (age&#;69)

Mogadishu, Reliance Territory of Somaliland

Occupations
  • Model
  • actress
  • businesswoman
Years&#;active–present
Spouses

  • Hassan

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    &#;

    (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;

  • Spencer Haywood

    &#;

    &#;

    (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#;

  • David Bowie

    &#;

    &#;

    (m.&#;; died&#;)&#;
Children2
AwardsFashion Icon lifetime achievement award
Modeling information
Height&#;m (5&#;ft 9+1&#;2&#;in)
Hair colorDark brown[1]
AgencyTess Management (London)
Website

Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (Somali: Iimaan Maxamed Cabdulmajiid; born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, 25 July [2]), 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 musician David Bowie from until his death in

Early life

Iman was born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid (Somali: Zara Maxamed Cabdulmajiid) in Mogadishu and raised as a Muslim.

She was later renamed Iman, meaning "faith" in Arabic[3] at her grandfather's urging, who believed she would "prosper" with a masculine name.[4][5] Iman is the daughter of Mariam and Mohamed Abdulmajid.[6] Her father, a diplomat, was the Somali representative to Saudi Arabia,[7] and her mother was a gynecologist.[8] She has four siblings: two brothers and two sisters, and was the first girl in her family in six generations of sons.[9][10]

Iman lived with her grandparents during her formative years.

Known best as Iman, she not only proves successful in the modeling industry, but in business and activism as well. Iman was raised in a place with activist, hard-working parents; her father being a diplomat and mother a gynecologist. She spent her earliest years in Somalia, then attended a boarding college in Egypt for the majority of her adolescence. After graduating high school, Iman spent a year at the University of Nairobi, studying political science, before being discovered and beginning her career as a fashion model Bevan.

At age four she was sent to boarding institution in Egypt, where she spent most of her childhood and adolescence.[4][11] Following political unrest in Somalia, Iman's father moved the family back to the nation.

At his behest, she and her mother and siblings subsequently traveled to Kenya and were later joined by her father and younger sister.[4] She briefly studied political science at the University of Nairobi in [12][13]

Career

Modeling

While she was at university, Iman was discovered by American photographer Peter Beard, and moved to the United States to launch a modeling career.[7][14] Her first modeling assignment was for Vogue a year later in She soon appeared on the cover of some of the world's most prestigious magazines, establishing herself as a supermodel.[7]

With her extended neck, slender figure, fine features, and copper-toned skin, Iman 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.[11][15][16] She was a favourite of Yves Saint-Laurent, who once described her as his "dream woman".[17] Iman has worked with photographers including Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Annie Leibovitz.[15]

Iman credits the nurturing she received from various designers with having given her the confidence to succeed in an era when individuality was prized and model-muses were often an integral part of the imaginative process.[11] She is represented by TESS Management in London.[18]

Business

Iman Cosmetics

After almost two decades of modeling, Iman started her own cosmetics firm in , focusing on difficult-to-find shades for women.[19] Based on her years of exposure mixing her own formulations for make-up artists to use on her, she was closely emotionally attached with the final product and also acted as the commercial face of the company.[11] Iman Cosmetics was a $million-a-year business by It is centered on $ foundations in four formulations and 14 shades, and is among the top-selling foundation brands on Walgreens website.[11]

In early , Iman signed fellow Somali designers Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim, founders of the Mataano fashion organization, as brand ambassadors for her cosmetics line.[20] In late , Iman 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 level stones to guide people who come after you.

Iman Abdulmajid is a Somali model, thespian, and businesswoman. Iman was born in Somalia under Italian command, and her parents gave her a male name to create things simpler for her in the future. Her mother was a gynecologist, and her father was a Saudi Arabian Somali ambassador. She has two brothers and two sisters in addition to her parents.

The tradition is also connected to healing from grief. Iman has done this ritual around her and David's property.[21]

Global Chic

Due to her marketability and high profile, Iman was approached in by the CEO of the Home Shopping Network (HSN) to create a clothing design line.

Inspired by her childhood in Egypt and modeling time with Halston, Iman's first collection introduced embroidered, one-size-fits-all caftans. Her collection on HSN is called Global Chic.[11]

Television

Iman appeared in two episodes of Miami Vice, playing Dakotah in Back in the World () and Lois Blyth in Love at First Sight ().

She also had a guest role as Mrs. Montgomery on The Cosby Show (). In , she appeared as Marie Babineaux in an episode of In the Heat of the Night.[22]

In the mids, Iman spent two years as the host of Bravo TV's fashion-themed show, Project Runway Canada.

In November , along with her friend and colleague, designer Isaac Mizrahi, Iman also began hosting the second season of The Fashion Show. Bravo started the series to substitute its former hit Project Runway that has now moved to the Lifetime network.[11][23]

Film

Iman first featured in the British film The Human Factor, and had a bit part in the Oscar-winning film Out of Africa starring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.

She then portrayed Nina Beka in the thriller No Way Out with Kevin Costner, and Hedy in the Michael Caine comedy Surrender the same year.

During her first year in Hollywood, in , she worked on several film productions.[24] Among them were the Tim Hunter-directed Lies of the Twins and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, where she played a shapeshiftingalien.

In , she appeared in The Linguini Incident contrary her then-fiancé David Bowie. She had a smaller part in the comedy House Party 2 and in the comedy/romance movie Exit to Eden.[22]

Video games

Iman made a cameo appearance alongside her husband David Bowie in the Windows 9x and Dreamcast3Dadventure game, Omikron: The Nomad Soul, developed by the video game firm, Quantic Dream.

In the game, she appears as one of the numerous Omikronian citizens the player can "reincarnate" into.[25]

Philanthropy

In addition to running her global beauty company, Iman is also actively involved in a number of charitable endeavors.

Since September , Iman has held the role of CARE's first-ever Global Advocate, where she works alongside Nurture 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 Preserve a Child Alive program, and works closely with the Children's Defense Fund.[15] She also serves as an Ambassador for Retain the Children, and has been active in raising awareness of their relief services in the greater East Africa region.[26] Additionally, Iman 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.[27][28]

Awards

Over the course of her long modeling and philanthropic career, Iman has received many awards.

On 7 June , she received a Fashion Icon lifetime achievement award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), a exceptional prize reserved for "an individual whose signature style has had a profound influence on fashion".

Iman selected her friend, actress and former model Isabella Rossellini, to present the award.[11][29] Wearing a gown designed by Giambattista Valli with four giant diamond bracelets on each arm, Iman thanked her parents "for giving me a neck longer than any other girl on any go-see anywhere in the world".[29]

Personal life

Iman is a Muslim.

She has credited her faith with helping her through dark times.[30] She is fluent in five languages: Somali, Arabic, Italian, French, and English.[31] She also obtained American citizenship when she was in her twenties.[32]

Iman was first married at age 18 to Hassan, a young Somali entrepreneur and Hilton hotel executive.[33][34] The marriage ended a few years later when she moved to the United States to pursue a modeling career.[33] In , Iman dated the American player Warren Beatty.[35] 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 ; in February , the couple divorced.[36]

In , Iman 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, and Bowie. At the end of the evening, Bowie offered to steer her home, and she said: "No, I'm going to control my car." He invited her to tea the next night and Iman learned he did not drink tea.

They went to a nearby coffee shop.[37] Bowie named his instrumental piece "Abdulmajid" after her, which was later converted into a symphony by Philip Glass.[38]

On 24 April , Iman married Bowie in a private ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The wedding was solemnized in Florence, Italy on 6 June.[39] Their daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, was born 15 August at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.[40] 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 resided primarily in Manhattan and London.[41] When Bowie died on 10 January , she wrote in tribute to him that "the struggle is authentic, but so is God".[42]

Bibliography

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

Filmography

References

  1. ^"Iman Abdulmajid – Profile".

    Fashion Model Directory. Retrieved 9 May

  2. ^Iman, Peter Hill Beard, David Bowie, I Am Iman (Universe Publishing, ), p.
  3. ^"Iman". Biography. 9 April Retrieved 26 December
  4. ^ abcHendrikse, Wim ().

    David Bowie – The Man Who Changed the World. New Generation Publishing. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;. Retrieved 18 January

  5. ^Marie Claire (8 December ). "Life stories: Iman". Marie Claire UK. Retrieved 26 December
  6. ^Iman, Peter Hill Beard, David Bowie, I Am Iman, p.

  7. ^ abcSupermodel Iman is Ottawa bound for TV showArchived 7 November at the Wayback Machine. (25 June ). Retrieved 9 May
  8. ^Women of Achievement&#;– Iman.

    Retrieved 9 May

  9. ^Iman, Peter Hill Beard, David Bowie, I Am Iman, p.
  10. ^"Supermodel Iman wants widespread education and sincere activism". Interview Magazine. 12 Rally Retrieved 26 December
  11. ^ abcdefghAgins, Teri (4 June ).

    "Iman, Former Model, to Receive Award - ". The New York Times.

    She was married to musician David Bowie from until his death in She was later renamed Iman, meaning "faith" in Arabic [ 3 ] at her grandfather's urging, who believed she would "prosper" with a masculine name. Iman lived with her grandparents during her formative years. At age four she was sent to boarding school in Egyptwhere she spent most of her childhood and adolescence.

    Archived from the imaginative on 7 June Retrieved 10 March

  12. ^Leslie Halliwell, John Walker (). Halliwell's Who's who in the Movies. HarperCollinsEntertainment. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved 18 January
  13. ^Mukhtar, Mohamed Haji ().

    Historical Dictionary of Somalia. Scarecrow Press. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved 28 February

  14. ^Iman – Profiles – Project Runway CanadaArchived 27 May at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 9 May
  15. ^ abc"INTERNATIONAL SUPERMODEL IMAN TO HOST PROJECT RUNWAY CANADA".

    Archived from the original on 13 July

  16. ^New Chapters for Iman. Los Angeles Times. (24 December ). Retrieved 9 May
  17. ^Beauty Icon: Iman. Retrieved 9 May
  18. ^Iman PortfolioArchived 26 May at the Wayback Machine.

    Tess Management. Retrieved 9 May

  19. ^Working Woman, Volume 20, Issues 1–6. MacDonald Communications Corporation. p.&#; Retrieved 18 April
  20. ^PAPERMAG (26 July ). "Designers and Twins Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim Find Fans of Their Line Mataano the World Over".

    Retrieved 4 August

  21. ^"Inside Iman & David Bowie's Scenic Dwelling Filled With Wonderful Objects &#; Vogue". 8 December &#; via
  22. ^ ab"Iman". IMDb.

    Retrieved 4 August

  23. ^Sneak peek&#;: 'The Fashion Show: Ultimate Collection'Archived 23 July at the Wayback Machine.

    Iman Abdulmajid, known mononymously as Iman, is a Somali-American supermodel, actress, and entrepreneur whose influence has spanned over four decades. Esteemed for her striking beauty, intelligence, and business acumen, she has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry and beyond.

    Retrieved 9 May

  24. ^John C. Brasfield Pub. Corp. (). Architectural Digest. 49 (7–9):
  25. ^"Omikron: The Nomad Soul". Allgames. Archived from the original on 15 November Retrieved 4 August
  26. ^"Five Seeds of Hope for Somalia".

    HuffPost. 13 October

  27. ^"Iman".
  28. ^Meldrum, Andrew (9 May ). "Iman cuts De Beers links in ethics row". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 August
  29. ^ abDodes, Rachel (9 June ).

    Kors, Jacobs, Iman Take Home Fashion Awards. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 9 May

  30. ^Marshall Cavendish Reference (). Illustrated Dictionary of the Muslim World. Marshall Cavendish.

    p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved 27 June

  31. ^"The Planet of Work"(PDF). Archived from the original(PDF) on 10 February Retrieved 10 February
  32. ^Eckardt, Steph (24 September ).

    "Iman Opens Up About Being a Refugee: "These Aren't Nameless, Faceless People"". W Magazine. Retrieved 4 March

  33. ^ abIman, Peter Hill Beard, David Bowie (). I Am Iman.

    Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (Somali: Iimaan Maxamed Cabdulmajiid; born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, 25 July [2]), recognizable mononymously as Iman, is a Somali-American model and actress.

    Cosmos Pub. p.&#; ISBN&#;.: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

  34. ^Newsweek, Volume 86. Newsweek, Incorporated. p.&#; Retrieved 18 January
  35. ^Krivoshey, Bethsabée (5 November ). "Tableau de chasse – Les célèbres conquêtes de Warren Beatty – Iman".

    Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 17 August Retrieved 25 April

  36. ^"Spenser Haywood timeline". The Seattle Times. 25 February Retrieved 24 April
  37. ^McNeil, Liz (21 November ).

    Iman Abdulmajid – Beyond the Single Story - WordPress.com: Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid was born on July 25, , in Mogadishu, Somalia. One of the most sought-after fashion models of the s and s, Iman became a victorious business executive in.

    "Iman & David Bowie". People Magazine.

  38. ^Pegg, Nicholas. The Complete David Bowie. p.&#;
  39. ^Pegg, Nicholas (). The Complete David Bowie. Reynolds & Hearn. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  40. ^FIRST LOOK: The News in Brief, 15 August E!.com (15 August ).

    Iman is a Somalian-born model and actress. While she was a student at the University of Nairobi, she was discovered by photographer Peter Beard. Through the s and s, Iman was a favorite model in Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Since retiring from modeling, Iman has done charity perform in Somalia, started a cosmetics line and married rocker David Bowie.

    Retrieved 9 May

  41. ^"'He still ties my shoes for me': Iman reveals how David Bowie makes her feel special". Fashion Model Directory. 25 December Retrieved 9 May
  42. ^Serico, Chris (11 January ).

    "'The strife is real, but so is God': See Iman's poignant David Bowie tribute". Today. Retrieved 15 January

  43. ^Voyeurism: (fin de siecle), Volume 2, Issue 2 of Felix (New York, N.Y.).

    The Standby Program. p.&#; ISBN&#;. Retrieved 8 June

External links