How a Somali diplomat's daughter became a global fashion icon and beauty entrepreneur
Born in Mogadishu and raised in Egypt, Iman transitioned from a political science student in Kenya to a legendary supermodel. Beyond her runway success, she revolutionized the cosmetics industry by addressing a massive market gap, eventually building a multi-million dollar business while championing global humanitarian causes and ethical trade.
Born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid in 1955, the model later adopted the name Iman, meaning faith. Her early life was defined by mobility; she attended boarding school in Egypt before returning to Somalia and later relocating to Kenya. In 1975, she briefly pursued university studies in political science in Nairobi. Her trajectory shifted dramatically when photographer Peter Beard discovered her, leading to her move to the United States and a 1976 debut in Vogue. Her unique aesthetic—characterized by a slender frame and copper-toned skin—made her an instant muse for designers like Yves Saint-Laurent and Gianni Versace.
After nearly two decades in fashion, Iman pivoted to entrepreneurship in 1994. Recognizing that major beauty brands failed to provide adequate shades for diverse skin tones, she launched her own cosmetics firm. Drawing on her personal experience mixing custom formulations for makeup artists, she became the commercial face of the brand. By 2010, the company was generating $25 million in annual revenue. This venture was not merely a business success but a structural intervention in an industry that had long ignored the needs of women of color.
Iman’s influence extends into philanthropy and activism. She has served as a Global Advocate for CARE and an Ambassador for Save the Children, focusing on relief in East Africa. Her ethical stance is perhaps best exemplified by her public break with the diamond conglomerate De Beers, a move taken to protest the trade in conflict minerals. Today, she continues to balance her business legacy with a commitment to social causes, often citing her faith as a source of resilience during difficult periods, including the 2016 death of her husband, David Bowie.
Source: Iman (model)
