How Iman's Daughter Reacted To Her Mom's Weight Gain During The Pandemic

Iman was studying political science at the University of Nairobi in the mid-1970s — a country in which she was living as a refugee after fleeing her native Somalia following political unrest — when she was spotted by American photographer Peter Beard, as Marie Claire described. The encounter was contentious. Beard asked to take Iman's photo and the 18-year-old was not comfortable in the slightest with his approach, thinking he was trying to make a pass at her, she told the magazine. "After much back and forth, I agreed to let him take my picture in exchange for the cost of my tuition, around $8,000," Iman said, demonstrating her business savvy. 

Iman moved to the United States to try her luck in modeling after Beard sent his photographs to Wilhelmina Cooper, of Wilhelmina Models. In 1976, just a year after meeting Beard, Iman booked her first job with none other than Vogue. "While I was hardly confident, I was not scared. I felt I had nothing to lose, only to gain. In Arabic my name, Iman, means 'faith.' I had faith," she wrote for Vogue in 2017 about starting a career in modeling with no previous experience. Iman went on to achieve "supermodel" status and became one of the best-paid models in the industry, making up to $20,000 a day, according to Marie Claire. 

All these years later, the widow of music legend David Bowie is attempting to deal with the consequences of COVID-19, which, in her case materialized as weight gain. 

As a model, Iman is likely more aware than most of the negative effects of body image issues. As such, she made a conscious effort to not show her insecurities about her looks in front of her daughters, Zulekha Haywood, whom she shares with first husband Spencer Haywood, and Alexandra "Lexi" Jones, whom Iman shared with late husband David Bowie, she told People in November. As a result, Lexi, who turned 21 in August, has never associated weight gain or loss with either being good or bad, Iman explained.

All these years later, it is Lexi who is returning the favor. Iman put on a few pounds since 2020, after braving the COVID-19 restrictions. "She said to me after [the pandemic] and I put on eight pounds, I said, 'I can't fit in my pants.' She said, 'Buy a bigger pair,'" Iman told People. Her daughter's attitude put things into perspective. "Problem solved," Iman said, adding that, "not fitting in skinny jeans" should not be an issue. "You're not 20 years old. Buy a size bigger. How about that?"

Iman and Lexi went several months without seeing each other because of the pandemic. In May 2020, Lexi took to her Instagram to urge people to follow social distancing guidelines so she could see her mother soon. "I haven't seen my mom for 6 months because we live on opposite coasts ... but I'm a child and i miss her dearly."

Iman has no issues with aging. During her November interview with People, the model noted that her heritage helped shape that worldview. "I come from Africa — one of the things that we are taught is what a privilege it is to get old. So, I have never lied about my age," Iman said. While time hasn't posed an issue for her, Iman has dealt with low self-esteem for most of her life, she told The Cut in 2015. "I had horrible self-esteem growing up. You really have to save yourself because the critic within you will eat you up," she said. In her view, getting older helps as one tends to become more humble with the passing of time. "It's a constant battle whether you are 16 or 50. As you age, you do really find that quietness inside and that being-comfortable-in-your-skin feeling," she explained.

In a 2018 conversation with Taraji P. Henson for Harper's Bazaar, Iman said that, for her, to "age gracefully" means "not giving a damn." She also added that she believes she managed to stay active in the fashion industry by staying true to her style. "[I]n a world full of trends, I want to remain a classic," she told Henson.

In a speakers series for CARE, for which she is an ambassador, Iman criticized the media and the public's tendency to say a woman looks good for her age. "They think they're complimenting you, but actually it's a double-edged sword."