Timeless beauty: supermodel Iman turns 70 years old

One of the first non-Western supermodels to rise to international fame, Iman was the muse and inspiration to some of the world’s venerable taste makers - from fashion guru Yves Saint Laurent to mercurial pop chameleon David Bowie.

For the French fashion designer, she was perfection, a flawless beauty who exuded charm and elegance like no one else: “My dream woman is Iman” he gushed about his muse.

Fireworks on blind date with Bowie

Bowie felt the same. He was instantly blown away by the Somali-American model, who he met on what must have been the ultimate blind date in romantic history - set up by his hairdresser, Teddy Antolin in 1990. Iman reportedly turned top to toe in black leather, lighting up the room the moment she entered; Bowie in white denim. “There was no one else in their lives but those two from then on,” Antolin recalled.

Two years later they married in Lausanne, Switzerland. Their relationship produced a daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, Lexi, born in August 2000.

The couple remained happily married until Bowie‘s untimely death on in January 2016. Iman, who declared Bowie was her “eternal love” has never remarried.

She retired from the runway in 1989, and set up her hugely successful company, Iman Cosmetics in 1994. She has appeared on the front cover of Vogue 22 times - most recently in January 2023 but most of her energies are dedicated to her charity projects.

Iman dedicated to charity and humanitarian work

In September 2019, she joined humanitarian agency CARE as a Global Advocate, and she is also an Ambassador for Save the Children.

Fiercely private, Iman prefers to keep a low profile and shies away from talking too much about her personal life. However she is active on social media, posting photos and airing her thoughts with messages. Back in December, she attended the opening night of “Gypsy” at The Majestic Theatre on Broadway, looking as stunning and youthful as ever.

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