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Iman Profile |
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Birth Date: July 25, 1955
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Birth Place: Mogadishu, Somalia
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Birth Name: Iman Abdulmajid
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Height: 5'9"
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Biography |
Iman Abdulmajid was born in Mogadishu, Somalia on July 25,
1955. Being the daughter of a diplomat, Iman was raised in a
comparatively privileged home, where she was quickly taught
the basics of global politics.
That interest not only stayed with her for the rest of her
life, but it led her to Nairobi, Kenya to study Political
Science at the local University. It was there that she
crossed paths with fashion photographer, Peter Beard.
Instantly entranced by her strong features, beautiful eyes,
and model figure, Beard begged her to come to New York.
After some initial skepticism, Iman crossed the Atlantic and
made an instant impact on the global fashion scene.
In 1979, Iman made history as the first African (or
African-American) woman to appear on the cover of Vogue.
Soon afterwards she made more history when she became the
first woman of color to sign a cosmetics contract. She
became as big a star as a model could become in that era,
and quickly turned her attention to film.
After some small roles in some truly terrible films, Iman
got her breakthrough in the Oscar-winning Out of Africa with
Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. From there she moved on to
roles in films like House Party 2, Star Trek VI: The
Undiscovered Country, and a cameo in the Michael Jackson
"Remember the Time" video.
Having grown weary of promoting cosmetics, Iman decided that
the major brands were not doing enough to address the needs
of women of color. In 1994, she launched her own line of
cosmetics aimed exclusively at this often overlooked and
underrepresented consumer group. So far, the company has
been extremely successful and in 2000 the company launched
the I-IMAN Makeup line of cosmetics for use by all women.
A successful modeling stint, a respectable acting resume and
a successful business gave Iman almost every accomplishment
she could have wanted in her professional career. But she
still felt alone after her divorce to Spencer Haywood, the
father of her daughter Zulekha, in the mid-1980s. By the
time the 1990s had rolled around, she had found herself a
soul mate in the form of music royalty.
Legendary artist David Bowie fell head over heels for the
model after she finally accepted his backstage pass to a
1990 show in Los Angeles. Two years later the two were
married, and have remained together ever since. In 2000, the
power couple gave birth to their first child together,
Alexandria Zahra.
Far from keeping her success and her talents exclusively to
herself, Iman has worked hard to make sure that she can use
her celebrity to help the underprivileged. As an active
member of Mother's Voices, Action Against Hunger, The
Children's Defense Fund, and the All Children Foundation,
Iman has entrenched herself as one of the most socially
conscious women in the celebrity world.
Iman is certainly one of the most beautiful women on Earth,
but by conquering such diverse challenges as modeling,
acting, raising a family, and fighting for a better world,
she has made herself one of the most respected too. |
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Other
Information |
Gave birth to her first child together with David Bowie, a
girl named Alexandria Zahra. [15 August 2000]
Model/actress.
Is a U.S. citizen.
Wears size 8 shoe.
Measurements: 32A-23-36 (when discovered in Somalia),
34C-23-35 (as an Elite model in 1988 after breast
enhancements), (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine)
Has her own action figure modeled after her character
'Martia' from the movie Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered
Country (1991).
Zuleka, her daughter with Spencer Haywood, attended Mercy
High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan and Michigan State
University.
Was the last of many women to kiss William Shatner on "Star
Trek" on Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991).
Was ranked #29 in Channel 5's "World's greatest supermodel".
Daughter-in-law of Margaret Mary Jones.
Stepmother of Duncan Jones. |
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