'I don’t want to go back, I want to go forward': Iman, 67, details how late husband David Bowie gave her the confidence to take career risks and dismisses the idea of a runway return
Legendary supermodel Iman has shed light on how her late husband David Bowie helped give her the confidence to further her dazzling career.
The Somali–American model and actress, 67, spoke to NET-A-PORTER’s digital title, PORTER about her make-up range Iman Cosmetics, which was born from her experiences in the fashion industry where people of colour were not catered to in the realm of cosmetics.
After sitting in the make-up chair for a Vogue shoot, she was made to look 'grey' due to miscoloured foundation leading to her idea to launch her own collection - something David gave her the push to undertake.
As well as discussing the birth of her company, Iman also revealed she was not looking to return to the runway having not attended a fashion show since 1989, as she professed: 'I don’t want to go back, I want to go forward'.
In an accompanying shoot to the interview, the sexagenarian looked nothing short of sensational in a slew of elegant ensembles shot for images showcasing her incredible physique and flawless modelling prowess.
![Incredible: Legendary supermodel Iman has shed light on how her late husband David Bowie helped give her the confidence to further her dazzling career](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72034951-12185525-image-a-38_1686567932971.jpg)
Incredible: Legendary supermodel Iman has shed light on how her late husband David Bowie helped give her the confidence to further her dazzling career
![Stunning: The Somali–American model and actress, 67, spoke to Porter Magazine about her make-up range Iman Cosmetics, which was born from her experiences in the fashion industry where people of colour were not catered to in the realm of cosmetics](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72034949-12185525-image-a-39_1686567969958.jpg)
Stunning: The Somali–American model and actress, 67, spoke to Porter Magazine about her make-up range Iman Cosmetics, which was born from her experiences in the fashion industry where people of colour were not catered to in the realm of cosmetics
![Her love: After sitting in the make-up chair for a Vogue shoot, she was made to look 'grey' due to miscoloured foundation leading to her idea to launch her own collection - something David gave her the push to undertake (David and Iman in 1995)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72036431-12185525-image-a-40_1686567976077.jpg)
Her love: After sitting in the make-up chair for a Vogue shoot, she was made to look 'grey' due to miscoloured foundation leading to her idea to launch her own collection - something David gave her the push to undertake (David and Iman in 1995)
![Promotion: Iman is seen in London's Selfridge's in 1997 promoting her cosmetics line](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72036561-12185525-image-a-56_1686568358586.jpg)
Promotion: Iman is seen in London's Selfridge's in 1997 promoting her cosmetics line
Iman she was at university, when she was discovered by American photographer Peter Beard, and relocated to the US for her modeling career.
While undertaking her first assignment for Vogue a year later in 1976, she first had her experience of the lack of awareness of make-up for people of colour.
She recalled being asked if she had her own foundation - which she had not - and the culminating result: 'I looked gray. From then on, I went to Woolworths and would mix foundation and pigments and carried it with me to shoots...
'Me and a friend would take Polaroids and I would ask myself, how does this look, how does it translate? Even then I knew, like, this is how it was going to be. It was all those years ago that I got the idea for Iman Cosmetics.'
![Dazzling: Iman she was at university, when she was discovered by American photographer Peter Beard, and relocated to the US for her modeling career](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72034953-12185525-image-a-43_1686568022108.jpg)
Dazzling: Iman she was at university, when she was discovered by American photographer Peter Beard, and relocated to the US for her modeling career
![Changes: While undertaking her first assignment for Vogue a year later in 1976, she first had her experience of the lack of awareness of make-up for people of colour](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72034945-12185525-image-a-44_1686568025618.jpg)
Changes: While undertaking her first assignment for Vogue a year later in 1976, she first had her experience of the lack of awareness of make-up for people of colour
![Stunner: She was a pioneering presence in the modelling industry](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72034939-12185525-image-a-46_1686568032190.jpg)
Stunner: She was a pioneering presence in the modelling industry
After meeting David in 1990 when they were set up on a blind date by hairstylist Teddy Antolin, the couple married in 1992 up until his death in 2016.
Speaking about the confidence the late rocker instilled in her, Iman went on: 'He was actually the one who gave me the confidence to do Iman Cosmetics...
'He asked, 'What are you scared of?' I didn't know if I could do it and [was worried] about failing. He said, 'What if it fails?' He was convinced I was going to regret not doing it.'
She then broke boundaries with the make-up line when she launched in 1994.
![Read the full interview in Porter Magazine](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72034955-12185525-image-a-42_1686567982127.jpg)
Read the full interview in Porter Magazine
When asked if she would follow in the footsteps of a slew of other veteran models, including Linda Evangelista, Pat Cleveland and Naomi Campbell, and return to modelling, Iman seemed resolute in her feelings on the matter.
She said: 'I’ve never been good at doing three or four things at once. I’ve worked with all the designers, but I haven’t been to a fashion show since 1989. I don’t want to go back, I want to go forward'
Iman recently reflected on her grief about David's death from cancer.
She spoke to British Vogue about how she refuses to refer to him as her 'late' husband and discussed her difficulties over finding space to grieve privately.
The couple had one daughter together, Alexandria Zahra Jones, 22.
Speaking about how she has adjusted six years on from his death she told the publication: 'He is not my 'late husband'. He is my husband. I don't mind at all being referred to as 'David Bowie's wife'.
'But I always remind people that I existed before I met him.'
Last year Iman revealed she will never remarry five years after her legendary rock star husband David lost his battle with cancer on Jan. 10 2016.
![Back? Speaking about the confidence the late rocker instilled in her, Iman went on: 'He was actually the one who gave me the confidence to do Iman Cosmetics'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72034943-12185525-image-a-45_1686568029793.jpg)
Back? Speaking about the confidence the late rocker instilled in her, Iman went on: 'He was actually the one who gave me the confidence to do Iman Cosmetics'
The star told PEOPLE magazine that it was 'love at first sight' when she met David on a blind date in Los Angeles years ago and still feels his presence after all this time.
She said: 'David said it was love at first sight. It took me a few months but I got there.' She added: 'I knew him as David Jones, his real name, and not the rock star.'
David kept his liver cancer battle mostly private, and passed away from the disease just days after turning 69 which coincided with the release of his 25th and final studio album Blackstar.
Five years after his death from cancer, she created her first fragrance, Love Memoir, as a tribute to their 'epic romance.'
To see the full feature with Iman read PORTER here or download the NET-A-PORTER app for iPhone, iPad and Android
![True love: Iman recently reflected on her grief about David's death from cancer (the couple in 2002)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/06/12/12/72036515-12185525-image-a-48_1686568246543.jpg)
True love: Iman recently reflected on her grief about David's death from cancer (the couple in 2002)
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