Iman was founded by the American photographer Peter Beard while still a student at university in Mogadishu and moved to the United States to start her modeling career. She was born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid in 1955. In 1976, she modeled for Vogue for the first time. Her appearances on the covers of some of the world’s most prestigious magazines established her as a supermodel.
Iman’s long neck, tall stature, slender figure, fine features, and copper-toned skin made her a fashion-world sensation. She was a muse for designers such as Halston, Gianni Versace, Calvin Klein, Issey Miyake and Donna Karan. Yves Saint-Laurent called her his “dream woman.” Iman has worked with several notable photographers, including Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, and Annie Leibovitz. She is also known for her philanthropic work and was married to rock musician David Bowie from 1992 until he died in 2016.
Check out these stunning photos of a young Iman as a model in the 1970s and 1980s.
