Iman Abdulmajid
Photo: Jorge Barrios / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 (editorial use)
Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid (born 25 July 1955) is a Somali-American supermodel, actress, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. She became a global icon in fashion and later the lifelong partner and wife of David Bowie, with whom she shared a deep personal and creative life from 1990 until his death.
Over more than two decades together, Bowie and Iman embodied a rare artistic partnership grounded in mutual respect, cultural insight, and shared humanitarian vision. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Name: Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid
- Born: 25 July 1955 (Mogadishu, Somalia) :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Died: Unknown
- Role: Supermodel, actress, philanthropist
- Bowie link: Wife and partner of David Bowie (1992–2016) :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- Core idea: Style, partnership, cultural and creative exchange
Early life and rise in fashion
Born Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid in Mogadishu, Iman grew up in a diplomatic family and later moved to Kenya and Egypt during her formative years. She was discovered by photographer Peter Beard in Nairobi and relocated to New York, where she quickly became one of the world’s first global supermodels. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
During the 1970s and 1980s she became a muse to leading designers including Gianni Versace, Halston, Calvin Klein, and Yves Saint Laurent, gracing numerous Vogue covers and runway shows. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Meeting David Bowie
Iman and David Bowie first met in 1990 on a blind date in Los Angeles set up by mutual friends. Their connection was immediate, leading Bowie to gift her an instrumental composition titled “Abdulmajid,” later arranged as a symphonic piece by Philip Glass. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
They married on 24 April 1992 in Lausanne, Switzerland, and held a larger ceremony in Florence, Italy, later that year. The couple had one daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones, born in 2000. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Partnership and influence
While not a musical collaborator in the studio, Iman played a vital role in Bowie’s personal world, offering emotional grounding, cultural perspective, and creative companionship during his later career. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
Bowie and Iman shared philanthropic interests and supported humanitarian causes, including HIV/AIDS awareness and global development initiatives. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Legacy of love
Their marriage lasted nearly 24 years, ending with Bowie’s death in January 2016 after a private battle with cancer. Iman continues to honour his memory publicly, marking anniversaries and sharing reflections on their life together. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
Iman’s story with Bowie stands as one of the most enduring personal partnerships in rock history — a testament to connection, respect and creative dialogue across art, fashion, and life itself. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}