Iman Shares Father’s Day Tribute on Instagram
Icon recently commemorated a childhood memory with her dad and also honored Bowie moments.
Image: Instagram
A Nostalgic Father’s Day Tribute
On June 16, supermodel and mogul Iman took to Instagram with a straightforward yet poignant message: “#imandaily Happy Father’s Day.” Accompanied by a vintage black-and-white portrait, the post shows a young Iman wrapped in a warm embrace with the man she credits for her early worldview—her father. While the Somali-born icon is no stranger to sharing professional achievements on her feed, this personal flashback is among her most intimate, offering fans a rare glimpse into the family dynamic that helped shape her before she became one of the fashion world’s most recognizable faces.
Influence Of A Diplomat Father
Born Oludumare “Ije” Olatunji in Mogadishu in 1955, Iman grew up as the daughter of Ambassador Muhammad Abdullahi Abdulle, who served as a diplomat and scholar for Somalia’s government. His postings took the family from Nairobi to Cairo, embedding in young Iman an international perspective that would later inform her fashion sensibility and philanthropic outlook. The model has often credited her father with instilling values of education and cultural pride—principles reflected today in her advocacy work and the diversity-driven ethos behind her cosmetics line.
Beyond The Runway
Iman’s rise to global stardom began in the 1970s after being discovered in Nairobi. She broke barriers on European and American catwalks and transitioned into acting, appearing in films such as Out of Africa and No Easy Way Out. In 1994, spotting a gap in beauty products for women of color, she launched Iman Cosmetics, pioneering foundation shades that embraced a wider spectrum of skin tones. Over the years, she has received numerous accolades, including the CFDA’s Fashion Icon Award in 2010. Despite her high-profile career, Iman’s candid social media glimpses reveal the family-oriented side of the model-turned-entrepreneur.
Wedding Anniversary Flashback
Earlier in June, Iman used the same signature tag, #imandaily, to mark her wedding anniversary with the late David Bowie. On June 6, she shared archival images from their 1992 ceremony in Florence, Italy, alongside the caption “Wedding Anniversary June 6th, 1992 —Florence, Italy —Photo @brianarisphoto #BowieForever #WeddingAnniversary.” The series of photographs captured intimate moments from their nuptials, reminding followers of a partnership that blended art, music, and fashion. Her affectionate tribute to Bowie—a global music icon who passed in 2016—resonated deeply, setting the stage for this subsequent homage to her own father.
A Community Of Tributes
Iman’s Instagram feed has become a living scrapbook, where professional milestones and personal memories intertwine under tags like #IMANarchive and #imandaily. From ’90s snapshots captured by Bruce Weber on South African beaches to beauty advice posts endorsing her Super Anti-Aging Serum by Dr. Barbara Sturm, she maintains a balance between style authority and genuine warmth. Fans and fellow industry figures regularly comment on the posts, praising her openness and the way she honors loved ones. This Father’s Day share is the latest example, reinforcing that behind every legendary model is a network of relationships that continues to inspire her today.
While the fashion world often sees Iman at its most glamorous, her recent tributes underscore the personal narratives that drive her creativity and compassion. By blending throwback imagery with heartfelt captions, she invites her global audience to celebrate not just her achievements, but also the family ties that remain at the heart of her enduring legacy.
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