Iman
Iman, born Iman Abdulmajid, the daughter of a diplomat, left her native Somalia as a refugee. Then, when she was a student at Nairobi University, fashion photographer Peter Beard approached her to ask if she had had her picture taken before. At first she thought he meant ever. She was soon to leave Kenya, to make her first print appearance in Vogue, to become a familiar face on runways around the world and one of the first black supermodels. Iman officially retired from modeling in 1989, but she has continued to influence the industry. Her eponymous cosmetics line caters to women with skin colors that are underserved by mainstream makeup. She is an actor, the author of two books and an outspoken activist for human rights causes. She has been married to David Bowie for two decades and, in 2010, received the Fashion Icon award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.