Somalian-born supermodel, fashion icon and businesswoman Iman may have never imagined any of these titles connected to her name. But in fashion, everything can change quickly, as it did in 1975 when she arrived in New York and began her modeling career. By the mid-1970s she became the first Black model to have a makeup contract under Revlon’s Polished Ambers cosmetics brand. In 1983, an unfortunate car accident almost ended her career, but she returned to the runway and reigned supreme until her retirement in 1989, becoming one of the most recognized fashion celebrities of all time.
Iman’s hypnotic beauty, as WWD once described it, alongside other notable names like Pat Cleveland, Anna Bayle, Mounia and Jerry Hall, became a permanent fixture on the international runway stage season after season. She was a muse to designers, Yves Saint Laurent, Gianni Versace, Valentino, Calvin Klein, Thierry Mugler and Donna Karan. In 2003, she and her late husband, rock star David Bowie, fronted the H by Tommy Hilfiger ad campaign.
Her second act aligned with hers and other women’s needs at the beauty counter. Iman recognized the importance of building a beauty brand for all skin tones, something she and other models experienced firsthand. In 1994, IMAN cosmetics debuted and became one of the first unifying high-end multimillion dollar cosmetics brands, as noted by WWD.
Over the years, she has been acknowledged for her advocacy for inclusivity and philanthropic work. She is also a fashion designer. Her first accessories brand Kikiois was a collaboration with The Echo Design Group in 1987. In 2007, she launched Iman Global Chic, which is currently sold on the Home Shopping Network (HSN). In 2021, she introduced her first fragrance, Love Memoir, a tribute David Bowie. Though she hasn’t returned to the runway since the late 1990s, she has appeared in print campaigns, championing inclusivity and holding fashion accountable for its diversity efforts.
From WWD and the Fairchild Archive, here is a celebratory look back at Iman’s 50 years as a supermodel supreme of the runway.
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Iman Through the Years
Iman (C) attends the opening of the Peter Beard exhibition at the Blum-Helman Gallery in New York City on November 10, 1975.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman poses in an ensemble from the Bill Blass fall 1976 ready to wear presentation.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Nick Machalaba Iman on the dance floor at the “Puttin on the Ritz” party at the Roseland Ballroom on April 19, 1976 in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman poses in an ensemble from the Bill Blass fall 1976 ready to wear presentation.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman backstage before the Oscar de la Renta 1977 resort collection fashion show.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Oscar de la Renta resort 1977 collection presentation in the designers New York City studios on August 17, 1977.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman poses in a pleated column gown from the Mary McFadden fall 1978 ready to wear collection fashion show in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman and a model pose in printed dresses from Stephen Burrows spring 1978 ready to wear advance.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman on the runway in a bridal ensemble from the Hanae Mori spring 1978 couture collection fashion show.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Dustin Pittman Model Iman in a striped dress at the Laura Ashley spring 1979 ready to wear fashion show.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Tim Jenkins Model Iman walks the runway in eveningwear from the Yves Saint Laurent spring 1980 couture runway show at Le Gran InterContinental Hotel in Paris.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Chloe by Karl Lagerfeld spring 1980 ready to wear fashion show in Paris, France.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman walks the runway in a puff sleeve velvet sheath cocktail dress from Carolina Herrera’s Fall 1981 debut ready to wear collection at the Metropolitan Club in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman on the runway at the Chanel spring 1982 ready to wear runway show on October 19, 1981, in Paris, France.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman poses in Anne Klein’s spring 1982 ready to wear advance on September 29, 1981 in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Ralph Lauren spring 1982 ready to wear fashion show in the designers New York City showroom on October 29, 1981.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Michaele Volbracht spring 1982 ready to wear fashion show in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman on the runway at the Michael Volbracht fall 1982 ready to wear fashion show in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman and a model in dresses from the Bill Blass fall 1982 ready to wear collection in Bryant Park on March 2, 1982 in New York, New York.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman walks the runway in looks from WilliWear by Willi Smith spring 1983 sportswear collection.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman on the runway at the Issey Miyake spring 1983 ready to wear fashion show staged aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid on October 18, 1982 in New York, New York.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman poses on the runway in a sheer top and wrapped skirt and hat from the John Anthony spring 1983 ready to wear fashion show in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Yves Saint Laurent spring 1983 ready to wear runway show in Paris, France.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman poses in Valentino’s spring 1983 ready to wear advance during a photo shoot on the streets of Italy.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at Calvin Klein’s spring 1983 ready to wear show at Calvin Klein studios in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at of the Valentino fall 1983 couture collection presentation on July 25, 1983 in Paris, France.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman poses on the runway at the Ronaldus Shamask spring 1983 ready to wear fashion show in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman poses in Anne Klein’s spring 1983 collection at Anne Klein’s design studio, New York.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman poses with designer Valentino Garavani in a backless evening gown from the Valentino fall 1984 couture collection.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Robert Kirk Model Iman in a wedding ensemble at the Bob Mackie fall 1984 ready to wear collection runway show.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Model Iman on the runway at the Claude Montana spring 1984 ready to wear fashion show on October 15, 1983, in Paris, France.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman walks the runway in a skirt suit from Ralph Lauren’s fall 1984 ready to wear collection fashion show.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman poses in Ralph Lauren’s sarong topped dress for the Best of New York summer 1984 designer advances on January 9, 1984 in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Thierry Mugler fall 1984 tenth anniversary ready to wear show at Zenith stadium in Paris, France on March 26, 1984.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman on the runway at the Oscar de la Renta spring 1985 ready to wear fashion show in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Model Iman walks in the Yves Saint Laurent Spring 1985 Ready to Wear Runway Show on October 24, 1984, in Paris, France.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman poses in Michael Kors Spring 1986 ready to wear collection advance on September 13, 1985 in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Guy Marineau Katouche Niane, Iman and Khadija Jones on the runway at the Thierry Mugler Spring 1986 ready to wear fashion show in Paris, France.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman poses in Anne Klein’s resort 1986 ready to wear advance at the designers New York City showroom on August 12, 1986.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman dances on the runway at Keith Varty and Alan Cleaver spring 1987 Byblos ready to wear collection in Milan, Italy.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman poses in loungwear from the Fernando Sanchez spring 1987 collection fashion show on November 10, 1986 in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Calvin Klein fall 1987 ready to wear collection fashion show.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Donato Sardella Iman on the runway at the Versace spring 1987 ready to wewar fashion show in Milan, Italy.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Oscar de la Renta fall 1988 ready to wear fashion show.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Models Iman and Khadija Jones on the runway at the Oscar de la Renta fall 1988 ready to wear fashion show in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman on the runway at the Donna Karan spring 1988 ready to wear fashion show at Donna Karan’s design studio in New York City on November 6, 1987.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman on the runway at the Diane von Furstenberg spring 1989 ready to wear fashion show.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman backstage at Bill Blass fall 1989 ready to wear collection fashion show at the Plaza Hotel on March 1, 1989 in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Model Iman poses in a logo bodysuit, pant and shirtdress from the DKNY summer 1989 collection on December 2, 1988, in New York City.
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Iman Through the Years
Image Credit: Fairchild Archive Iman poses for a portrait in Fernando Sanchez’s fall 1989 loungewear collection advance in New York City.
