I am Iman

When an individual does not need a last name to be recognized, he or she belongs to a very elite class of celebrities. Iman entered that select group in 1979 when she made history as the first African woman to appear on the cover of Vogue. Soon, she made more history when she became the first woman of color to sign a cosmetics contract. Iman became as big a star as a model could become in that era. Arguably, she is the most recognizable African in the world today. To top it all off, at more than 45 years of age, Iman seems to have found a fountain of youth that keeps her as beautiful as ever.

Iman Abdulmajid was born in Mogadishu, Somalia on July 25, 1955. As the daughter of a diplomat, she was raised in a comparatively privileged home, where she was quickly taught the basics of global politics. That interest not only stayed with her for the rest of her life, but it led her to Nairobi, Kenya to study Political Science at a local university. It was there that she crossed paths with fashion photographer, Peter Beard. Instantly entranced by her strong features, Beard begged her to come to New York. Trying to ignore all of the things that seem to elevate Iman over the typical actress or model is tough because her beauty is truly incomparable. With her perfect bone structure, dark beautiful eyes and lithe figure, she was unlike anyone who came before her. After some initial skepticism, Iman crossed the Atlantic and made an instant impact on the global fashion scene.

Iman has also made great strides in the political arena by raising awareness about her native Somalia, and in the business world with her successful cosmetics line. Having made an impact in almost every area that a celebrity can aspire for, Iman is one of the most recognizable and respected figures in the world.

Dirty Pop

Grunge style was a sort of rebellion against the starched "yuppiedom" of Seattle, where there exists an unstated rule for yuppies that says, "You must not look like a lumberjack if you want to be dressed properly, decently and smartly." In revolt against this tacit regulation, the denizens of Seattle’s underground scene appropriated the torn jeans, comfortable shoes, and often patterned flannel shirts of Washington State’s lumber country.

Grunge musicians were more anti-stars with their torn clothing and were just being "themselves." None ever really considered this a style, but later this anti-style would become a product of the fashion industry. In the ’90s, magazines grasped at grunge musicians’ look and formulated a special "grunge fashion." Designers like Calvin Klein used it in their shows and the once-cheap grunge clothing became more and more expensive. Elements from grunge fashion such as wallet chains, ripped cardigans, baseball caps and chunky sneakers were incorporated into these designer fashion shows. Like the music before it, grunge fashion was exploited, and young fans bought into the trend.

Grunged And Gorgeous

Incorporating two seemingly opposing phenomena as Iman and Grunge are daunting even in the fantasy world of fashion where impossibility is never an option. As presented in this portfolio, supermodel Grace Tagle undergoes metamorphosis as ace makeup artist Ricci Chan transforms her to the heights of iconic beauty, as Iman. Style surfaces out of Africa and other worldly influences in heavily-patterned and boldly-colored fashion as seen in the spring runways and as interpreted by Filipino designers Joey Samson, Ivarluski Aseron, Jun Escario, Roel Rosal and Vic Barba. Diversified by grungy elements of ’90s pop culture such as chunky footwear (Pony, in this story), this is the result when worlds collide.