As Told to Zulekha Haywood at Essence.com
I am saddened by the passing of the legendary supermodel Naomi Sims, but I take comfort in knowing that she has left us a proud legacy that all of us Black supermodels have benefitted from. In 2000, when I was working on my book “I AM IMAN,” my husband, David Bowie, surprised me on my birthday with a pristine copy of her Life magazine cover story issue which served as a creative inspiration for the story I was trying to tell, and remains to be one of my most prized possessions.
Besides the fact that Naomi was aesthetically perfect in every way, what gave her that je ne sai quoi, that elusive certain somethingness, was her ability to be elegant and accessible at the same time. Her degree of elegance can be one of those qualities that looks effortless from an editorial sense, but you can’t imagine that translating into everyday life. But Naomi did it; she made it look easy, and most importantly, she made it look like something every woman innately possesses.
Contrary to the belief that I looked for inspiration on my iconic images to the White glamour models of the bygone era, it was Naomi Sims and her Life cover that I was channeling in the photo below…. she was truly an inspiration! Naomi will be missed for everything that she contributed to the female experience, not just the Black female experience. She was iconic in every way.
As Told to Zulekha Haywood at Essence.com
I am saddened by the passing of the legendary supermodel Naomi Sims, but I take comfort in knowing that she has left us a proud legacy that all of us Black supermodels have benefitted from. In 2000, when I was working on my book “I AM IMAN,” my husband, David Bowie, surprised me on my birthday with a pristine copy of her Life magazine cover story issue which served as a creative inspiration for the story I was trying to tell, and remains to be one of my most prized possessions.
Besides the fact that Naomi was aesthetically perfect in every way, what gave her that je ne sai quoi, that elusive certain somethingness, was her ability to be elegant and accessible at the same time. Her degree of elegance can be one of those qualities that looks effortless from an editorial sense, but you can’t imagine that translating into everyday life. But Naomi did it; she made it look easy, and most importantly, she made it look like something every woman innately possesses.
Contrary to the belief that I looked for inspiration on my iconic images to the White glamour models of the bygone era, it was Naomi Sims and her Life cover that I was channeling in the photo below…. she was truly an inspiration! Naomi will be missed for everything that she contributed to the female experience, not just the Black female experience. She was iconic in every way.
I interviewed Ralph Lauren model and Somali beauty Ubah for New York Magazine. What a delight it was to meet her as she is very gracious, extremely tall and beyond gorgeous! We chatted away in Somali when we didn’t want the others to know what we were talking about. This model is definitely here to stay! Hey, Ralph! Put her under a contract!
Image courtesy of Wireimage
The Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala is dubbed as The Party of the Year and this year it was a salute to The Model as a Muse and it was about time. It was a celebration of the real-life heroines of fashion-The Model. It was a multi-generational love fest and there were a lot of models whom I haven’t seen for over 20 years, Lisa Taylor! I met for the first time Twiggy! and was hugged and loved by new girls of the moment like Raquel Zimmerman in the bathroom – no less! And I couldn’t have been more elated to see one of my fave model/ friend Yasmine Le Bon and her gentleman of a husband, Simon Le Bon. I was even one of the first on my feet dancing when Kanye West took the stage and he blew the roof of the Met! For those who are not in the loop… I wore custom made Donna Karan and Fred Leighton jewelry… and my date was Donna Karan as I am her muse. Thank you Anna Wintour for celebrating us!
