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From her first fashion shoot with Vogue in 1976 to Mugler runways, and founding Iman Cosmetics, Iman is the original supermodel we read about in our history books. Born in Somalia as Zara Mohamed Abdulmajid, the American model began her career in New York as the first Black model to refuse lower pay than white model. Since, she’s continued to be nothing short of iconic. “They said I was exotic… A parrot is exotic, I’m a person,” she told Vogue Arabia, for example. Additionally, the famous supermodel and entrepreneur has never shied away from making major beauty statements, either.
The day she arrived in New York in 1975, she wore a scarf-covered bouffant hairstyle, heavy dark eyeshadow, and short micro-brows at a press party to welcome her to the city. She never wore makeup before then, but as her approach to beauty blossomed, the 1980s had glossed reds, browns and oranges written all over her lips. Other times, she had a spiked, rockstar wig and dark lip, like at Tara Tyson’s baby shower in ‘86.
Then, in the ‘90s, we saw her go from lioness hairdos to more experimental wigs. Think: her gray pixie cut at Herb Rittz’s birthday party, a braided beehive ‘do at the ‘96 Costume Institute Gala, and big red afro at Interview’s 30th anniversary party.
In 2001, she was spotted with a flipped bob and circular blush at the 2001 VH1/ Vogue Fashion Awards. She revisited and updated the look throughout the years— in 2008 she upgraded it with bronze bangs on her straight cut bob, dark eyes, and matte blush. At the 2019 WWD Honors, she paired a shoulder-length middle part with her signature thin brows, smokey shadow, and dark lip. Although she has her go-tos, she’s not afraid to think outside of the beauty box, either. Cue: the Invisible Beauty Premiere in 2023, where she showed off extensions and a light lip.
Below, we celebrate Iman’s 71st birthday with a look back at her most iconic beauty moments of all time.
Iman Makes In Store Appearance
397569 02: Model Iman makes an in store appearance to sign copies of her new book ” I Am Iman” at Henri Bendel November 20, 2001 in New York City. (Photo by George De Sota/Getty Images)
Vanity Fair 2003 Tribeca Film Festival Launch Party
NEW YORK – MAY 1: (U.S. TABS AND HOLLYWOOD REPORTER OUT) Model Iman attends the Vanity Fair 2003 Tribeca Film Festival launch party at The State Supreme Courthouse May 1, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Iman At The 30Th Anniversary Party For Interview Photo By Robin Platzer/Twin
10/28/99 New York, Ny. Iman At The 30Th Anniversary Party For Interview. (Photo By Robin Platzer/Twin Images/Getty Images)
3rd Annual Black Girls Rock! Awards – Arrivals
NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 02: Model and activist Iman attends the 3rd Annual Black Girls Rock! Awards at the Stanley H. Kaplin Penthouse at Lincoln Center on November 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Brian Ach/WireImage)
“The Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion” Costume Institute Gala – Arrivals
NEW YORK – MAY 04: Model Iman attends “The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion” Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 4, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
The Costume Institute Gala Honors Christian Dior
Iman (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Keep A Child Alive’s 6th Annual Black Ball – Arrivals
NEW YORK – OCTOBER 15: Iman attends Keep A Child Alive�s 6th Annual Black Ball hosted by Alicia Keys and Padma Lakshmi at Hammerstein Ballroom on October 15, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
Fragrance Foundation 24th “FiFi” Awards
Iman (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
“City Slickers II ‘The Legend of Curly’s Gold'” New York Premiere
Iman during “City Slickers II ‘The Legend of Curly’s Gold'” New York Premiere at Ziegfeld Theater in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Grand Opening of Seventh On Sale
Iman during Grand Opening of Seventh On Sale at 26th Street Armory in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
amfAR New York Gala To Kick Off Fall 2011 Fashion Week Presented By Hublot – Arrivals
Model Iman attends the amfAR New York Gala to kick off Fall 2011 Fashion Week at Cipriani Wall Street on February 9, 2011 in New York City.
Cannes 2002 – amfAR’s Cinema Against AIDS Gala sponsored by Motorola and co-sponsored by De Beers – Arrivals
Iman wears the De Beers Millennium Star necklace, with the world’s largest flawless pear shaped diamond , weighing 203 carats. It is suspended from a platinum neckpiece pave-set with 2000 fine round diamonds. A priceless diamond, the De Beers Millennium Star was the target of “the world’s greatest robbery attempt” at the London Millennium Dome in November 2000. (Photo by Toni Anne Barson/WireImage)
Louis Vuitton 150th Anniversay Celebration
Naomi Campbell and Iman during Louis Vuitton 150th Anniversay Celebration at Louis Vuitton Tent at Lincoln Center in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by KMazur/WireImage for Louis Vuitton)
The Fashion Group International Presents – The 20th Annual Night of Stars
Iman during The Fashion Group International Presents – The 20th Annual Night of Stars at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Bill Davila/FilmMagic)
Gala Dinner Introducing “Ben and Izzy” with Special Guest Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan
Iman during Gala Dinner Introducing “Ben and Izzy” with Special Guest Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by G. Gershoff/WireImage for Freud Communications)
2003 Cannes Film Festival – DeBeers Party
Iman wearing DeBeers Diamonds during 2003 Cannes Film Festival – DeBeers Party at Studio 5 at The Noga Hilton in Cannes, France. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage)
Gala Dinner At London’S Tate Gallery
Iman Attends A Gala Dinner At The Tate Gallery. (Photo by Justin GoffUK Press via Getty Images)
The 2001 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards – Arrivals
Iman during The 2001 VH1/Vogue Fashion Awards – Arrivals at The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
2001 Essence Awards
Iman during The 2001 Essence Awards at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)
2015 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards – Arrivals
NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Model Iman attends 2015 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 9, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Glamour)
Iman
CANADA – NOVEMBER 21: Iman (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Supermodel Iman
Iman at the 56th International Film Festival in Cannes. (Photo by Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images)
SUN CITY: PRIOR TO THE ELECTION OF MISS WORLD
SUN CITY: PRIOR TO THE ELECTION OF MISS WORLD (Photo by Patrick Durand/Sygma via Getty Images)
4th Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 25: Model Iman attends the 4th Annual Save the Children Illumination Gala at The Plaza Hotel on October 25, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Desiree Navarro/WireImage)
Iman at Dior Store Opening
(Original Caption) : New York City: Iman at the opening of a new Christian Dior store on 57th Street. (Photo by Mitchell Gerber/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
Glamour Celebrates 2017 Women Of The Year Awards – Arrivals
BROOKLYN, NY – NOVEMBER 13: Iman attends Glamour’s 2017 Women of The Year Awards at Kings Theatre on November 13, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Glamour)
“To Kill A Mockingbird” Broadway Opening Night
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 13: Iman attends the Broadway Opening Night Performance of “To Kill A Mockingbird” on December 13, 2018 at The Shubert Theatre in New York City. (Photo by Walter McBride/WireImage)
2019 WWD Honors
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 29: Iman attends the 2019 WWD Honors at Intercontinental New York Barclay on October 29, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
“Invisible Beauty” Premiere – 2023 Tribeca Festival
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 13: Iman attends the “Invisible Beauty” premiere during the 2023 Tribeca Festival at SVA Theatre on June 13, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Tribeca Festival)
Wayuu Taya Foundation 20th Anniversary Gala
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 30: Iman attends the Wayuu Taya Foundation 20th Anniversary Gala at Urban Zen Center At Stephan Weiss Studio on October 30, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Wayuu Taya Foundation )
David Bowie File Photos
David Bowie and Iman (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
David Bowie File Photos
David Bowie and Iman (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Iman’s Press Party – October 15, 1975
Iman (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Portrait Of Mario Van Peebles & Iman
Portrait of Mexican-born American actor and director Mario Van Peebles (left) and Somali model Iman (born Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid), New York, New York, 1980s. Van Peebles wears a shirt, vest, and bowtie; Iman wears a ruffled, transparent black body stocking.. (Photo by Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)
Vogue 1977
Close up of back of model, Iman, with body wrapping of silk cording anchored with a huge golden jewel. (Photo by Ishimuro/Conde Nast via Getty Images)
Vogue 1977
Model Iman sporting sectioned coif for Spring 1977. (Photo by Conde Nast/Conde Nast via Getty Images)
Vogue 1977
Close up of model, Iman, wearing Mary McFadden’s head and body wrap of gold macrame and non-jewel jewels. (Photo by Ishimuro/Conde Nast via Getty Images)
Vogue 1977
Model, Iman, wearing a bandeau top with frilled edges and long gold-embroidered skirt by Yves Saint Laurent, while reclining near a pool at Casa Bonita, the island home of Mr. and Mrs. Gustavo Cisnaros, near La Romana. (Photo by Kourken Pakchanian/Conde Nast via Getty Images)
Bill Blass Spring 1980 Ready to Wear Runway
Model Iman (Photo by Dustin Pittman/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)
John Paul Gaultier Fashion Show – Runway – 1983
Iman (Photo by Rose Hartman/WireImage)
Iman File Photos
Iman (Photo by Rose Hartman/WireImage)
Baby Shower For Tara Tyson
Iman and Will Regan (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Michael Vollbracht Fashion Show – Runway – 1981
Iman (Photo by Rose Hartman/WireImage)
John Paul Gaultier Fashion Show – Runway – 1983
Iman (Photo by Rose Hartman/WireImage)
Iman at Spago’s Restaurant – July 19, 1989
Iman (Photo by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Lane Davis Designs Party
Iman (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Herb Ritts Birthday Party – August 10, 1991
Iman (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
‘King of The Hill’ – New York Premiere
Iman during “King of The Hill” – New York Premiere in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Grease Starring Rosie O’Donnell – Opening Night
Iman during “Grease” Starring Rosie O’Donnell – Opening Night in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
1992 Cable ACE Awards
Iman during 1992 Cable ACE Awards in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
42nd Annual Writers Guild of America Awards
Iman during 42nd Annual Writers Guild of America Awards at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
“For The Boys” Los Angeles Premiere
Iman during “For The Boys” Los Angeles Premiere at The Academy in Beverly Hills, California, United States. (Photo by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
“Freejack” Los Angeles Premiere
Iman during “Freejack” Los Angeles Premiere at Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Houston & Iman At The Plaza
American vocalist Whitney Houston and Somali model Iman Mohamed Abdulmajid attend the Arista Pre-Grammy Party held at the Plaza, New York, New York, May 1, 1994. (Photo by Larry Busacca/WireImage)
Portrait Of Iman
Portrait of Somali-born American fashion model Iman, dressed in red ruffled, strapless top, as she poses against a white background, New York, New York, 1981. (Photo by Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)
Ron Galella Archive – File Photos 2009
Model Iman attends Seventh on Sale AIDS Benefit on November 29, 1990 at the Armory in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Exotic beauty: Kenyanborn model Iman; 32; is a favorite in Paris.
CANADA – MARCH 31: Exotic beauty: Kenyanborn model Iman; 32; is a favorite in Paris. (Photo by Bernard Weil/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
Iman
Fashion model Iman poses for photographs. (Photo by �� Vittoriano Rastelli/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Iman
Fashion model Iman poses for photographs. (Photo by �� Vittoriano Rastelli/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Top Model Iman
Top Model Iman (Photo by frederic meylan/Sygma via Getty Images)
Iman
NEW YORK, NY – CIRCA 1994: Iman circa 1994 in New York City. (Photo by Robin Platzer/IMAGES/Getty Images)
Mode Prêt-à-Porter Printemps-Eté 1986
Le top model Iman lors du défilé Hiroko Koshino le 16 octobre 1985 à Paris, France. (Photo by Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Mode Prêt-à-Porter Automne-Hiver 1988-1989
Défilé Valentino avec le top model Iman en mars 1988, à Paris, France. (Photo by Daniel SIMON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Jackie Rogers Fall 1984 Ready to Wear Runway Show and Ambiance
Model Iman (Photo by Thomas Iannaccone/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Best of New York Summer 1984 Designer Swimwear Advances – Alexander Julian
Model Iman in Alexander Julian’s strapless “Glamour Suit.” (Photo by Thomas Iannaccone/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Backstage Beauty Preparation From The Bill Blass Fall 1984 Ready To Wear Fashion Show
Hairdresser Ronnie Stam cuts model Iman’s hair. (Photo by George Chinsee/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Backstage Beauty at Bill Blass Fall 1986 Ready to Wear Fashion Show
Iman applies her makeup backstage before the Bill Blass Fall 1986 fashion show. (Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Backstage Beauty Preparation From The Bill Blass Spring 1987 Ready To Wear Collection Fashion Show
Backstage model Iman inspects her hair in a mirror. (Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Issey Miyake Spring 1984 Ready to Wear Runway Show
Model Iman walks in the Issey Miyake Spring 1984 Ready to Wear Runway Show on October 15, 1983, in Paris, France. (Photo by Guy Marineau/Penske Media via Getty Images)
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