It's a word that comes to mind when I see the following series of pictures.

These old photos have recently become popular on social media.

Black skin and white hair, plus jewelry, are beautiful in the night.

She is the world's first colored supermodel, the darling of major fashion designers, and the heroine of Michael Jackson MV.

She is also the widow of rock star David Bowie. They have known each other for 25 years, and she accompanied David through the last days of his life.

Today, 67-year-old Iman is still active in the public eye. On Met Gala of 202 1, she dressed up as the goddess of the sun, which surprised everyone.

Perfect, charming and mysterious, it seems that no amount of praise can be put on her.

In addition to the beauty of traveling through time and space, the life story of this top supermodel is also legendary.

Queen of Africa from Somalia

A legendary life is bound to be accompanied by the beginning of a legend.

There are many versions of the legend about Iman's debut, one of which is described as follows:

Such a mythical description is indeed partly taken from the facts.

Iman was born in a wealthy family in Somalia. His father is a diplomat and his mother is a gynecologist.

A civil war broke the peace in Somalia, displaced people and forced the Iman family to flee. His parents were accepted by Tanzania, and Iman left them to study political science in Nairobi, Kenya.

Now it seems that the tough quality runs through Iman's life. No matter whether the life situation is high or low, she has never thought of being ordinary.

She taught herself five languages at school and is fluent in Somali, Arabic, Italian, French and English.

She works as a translator in the tourism department to earn tuition. Whether she is on the move or busy, Iman's life is full and full of expectations.

This kind of beauty is quiet, wild, strange and mysterious.

Peter Beard recommended Iman to be a model in new york, and new york is a fashion center.

Iman went to Manhattan, new york, and carefully booked a return flight before leaving, fearing that his dream would not go smoothly as expected.

This dark-skinned girl from Kenya, like an alien, stepped into the modeling circle where white people were in power.

But she broke the stereotype of her. She is elegant and noble, just like a black swan.

Her facial features have a charming beauty, not to mention the superior head-shape proportion, slender bone lines and expressive force that people of color are born with, which make her stand out.

Iman immediately burst into flames.

1976, her first cover was VOGUE, and her real debut was the peak.

At that time, she took pictures of the covers of big magazines, searched casually, and there were many.

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In 1970s and 1980s, Iman was the darling of several fashion designers, not only Versace, Calvin Klein and many other famous brands, but also Yves Saint Laurent regarded her as a brand muse and called her "the Queen of Africa".

Although he had not received professional training as a model, Iman was born as a supermodel, and his beautiful appearance and figure, rare dark skin and mysterious exotic temperament were unique at that time.

She also expanded her business from plane to runway.

Iman, whose modeling career has flourished, was also invited by Michael Jackson to star in the MV of "Last the Time" set in ancient Egypt, and Iman played the Queen of Egypt.

This is very vivid.

The two also have a kissing scene in the MV.

This charming "black pearl" has conquered countless people.

As a rare colored model, Iman has been fighting for the racial discrimination encountered by colored people. In addition to calling for equal pay for equal work in the modeling industry, she also started a company to do charity and promote the progress and development of the industry.

1989, 34-year-old Iman announced his farewell to the runway, and his brilliant modeling career came to an end. Since then, he has started a career centered on beauty.

Iman once said in an interview that decades ago, she couldn't even buy a bottle of liquid foundation suitable for her skin color. During her modeling career, the only cosmetics on the market were developed for white women.

1994, Iman founded Iman Cosmetics, a personal beauty brand, to develop beauty products for colored people and defend the beauty of women.

Rock stars and supermodels

Immortal love spanning life and death

Influenced by African customs, Iman got married very early. Iman, who was indoctrinated by his parents since childhood, entered the traditional marriage and got only endless pain.

Without telling anyone, including her husband, she left Kenya with fake documents and went to Manhattan alone.

Iman, who had a smooth career, also met love one after another.

Warren Beatty is Iman's first public boyfriend since he came to the United States.

He is a famous movie star in Hollywood. He once starred in Hollywood's new work Bonnie and Clyde, and won the 64th Golden Globe Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2007.

Their relationship lasted for a while, but it didn't go any further.

The second is Spencer Haywood, an NBA basketball player. They got married on 1977 and had a daughter, but their marriage ended in breakup.

Iman and Spencer Haywood's family

It once appeared in Essence magazine.

Just as Iman gradually lost confidence in her feelings and stopped expecting romantic love, David Bowie came into her life.

Who would have thought that a bold and avant-garde rock star is also a cautious big boy when he really falls in love?

Under the arrangement of David Bowie hairdresser, David Bowie and Iman went on a blind date, and both of them got divorced.

I didn't expect to hit it off as soon as we met and talked all night.

The superstar recalled his feelings when he first met Iman:

The next day Bowie asked Iman to have tea, and he was too nervous to drink a bite.

In order to propose to Iman, David Bowie tried his best to get rid of all bad habits, even gave up drinking, and seriously took Iman back to his hometown in Somalia to meet his parents.

Finally, David Bowie proposed to Iman on a boat in the Seine.

1On April 24th, 992, they got married in Tuscany, Italy.

Eight years later, their daughter Lexi Jones was born.

This happy little family, Iman and David Bowie, run it with all their heart.

They reduce exposure and try to keep a low profile. David Bowie gave all his love to Iman and his children.

A rock star and a top model, but their love is extremely simple.

Once they appear, they are paired, and both of them give each other full security.

For Iman, David Bowie is as reliable as the sun: "I know that if he finds me in trouble, he will never leave me for a moment."

David Bowie once showed his love generously in the program: "You may think that marrying a rock star and a supermodel is the best thing in the world. Well, it really is. "

As star couple, they seldom quarrel. As long as they are together, they will love each other forever.

Iman has a bad temper, and meeting gentle David Bowie is the most wonderful match.

Iman recalled the details of their relationship.

While rowing, Iman was so angry that he threw the plate at him, but Bowie just said softly, "Honey, shouldn't we talk quietly?"

Who would have thought that David Bowie, famous for his avant-garde, raised a baby like an ordinary father.

To make her daughter happy, David Bowie also made a guest appearance as the voice of Spongebob series, the strange creature on the right.

Special dubbing starring: David Bowie

The two never hide the joy of having each other in their lives.

David Bowie said, "My greatest achievement is to marry my wife."

Iman said, "I still like him so much after all these years."

However, it backfired.

2016 65438+1010, David Bowie died of liver cancer.

For rock fans all over the world, this is a sad day, and the superstar left us with that era.

What Iman lost was the lover she had been in love with for 24 years, holding her in the palm of her hand and pampering her husband, the father of their children, and the person who knows her best in the world.

"He is not my late husband, he is my husband."

After David Bowie's death, Iman was too sad to stay in his home full of memories for five years: "I come here occasionally for weekends, and then all the memories will flood in. It was so sad, and then I fled to my home in the city. "

Until the beginning of 2020, Iman finally moved back to his rural home in northern new york. Iman finally got out of the pain and dared to recall those happy days.

202 1, she launched a memoir of perfume love in memory of David Bowie.

Today, Iman is still working hard and maintaining the general rhythm of "workaholic". She runs a company, writes books and does charity. She uses her own platform to support humanitarian organizations and child protection foundations.

"Personally, if I don't do charity, I can't look at my life because it saved my life."

With memories of David Bowie, she continues to firmly love the world.

Some beauty can travel through time and space, and some love can travel through life and death.