Iman’s first modeling assignment was for Vogue in 1976, and she was an instant success. Andre Leon Talley is said to have quipped: “She is the priestess of high style.” She was a muse for fashion designers, including Yves St. Laurent (who famously said, “My dream woman is Iman.... Perfection. Her face. Her body.”), Versace, Calvin Klein, Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier, Thierry Mugler, and Donna Karan (“Whenever I want to make a strong statement about a look, I’ll say, ‘Put it on Iman!’”).

In addition to being the darling of both photographers and designers, however, she is also a model’s model: “I learned how to do the job of a model from the best of the best—Iman,” Cindy Crawford has said. Tyra Banks praised Iman, recalling, “She sauntered down the catwalk in such a regal manner, but with a touch of feline sensuality that was absolutely mesmerizing. I cut out every picture of her that I could find and pasted them all over my bedroom walls.”

Arena magazine described her as a “goddess,” writing, “Fashion Victims the world over get wet just thinking how faaaaabulous she is. The greatest designers stamp foot, pout and demand that Iman be in their show, or frankly, darling, there might not be a show. Beautiful transsexuals from Harlem to Hong Kong stuff their mattresses with dollars and dreams of having the chop, the hormone shots, of becoming an Iman clone. The vogueing dance craze is practically a tribute to her arch, theatrical modeling technique.”

As the CEO of IMAN Cosmetics, Iman has revolutionized the way women with skin of color can think of beauty. Naomi Campbell has said, “She is the one who, against the greatest odds, opened the gateway for ethnic models in this business—they are seen as beautiful women in their own right, instead of just as trendy gimmicks.”

In addition to running a global beauty company, Iman is actively involved in several charities, including The Children’s Defense Fund, For All Kids Foundation, and Action Against Hunger. In 2006, she became the Global Ambassador for Keep a Child Alive. She has conceived of and spearheaded a national campaign called I AM AFRICAN to help raise awareness and funds for the AIDS pandemic that is ravaging her home continent.

Iman is the author of two books: I Am Iman, an autobiographical sketchbook of her career, and The Beauty of Color, the first beauty and makeup book to address skin tones across the spectrum, including black, Latina, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Native American, as well as skin of multiple ethnicities.

Legendary supermodel, cosmetics mogul, mother of two, and wife of rock-god David Bowie—Iman. What more is there to say?