“Back in the mid-70s when I started my career as a model and began seeing more similarities than differences among different ethnic groups. Let's face it: women of every race, nationality and background want the same thing - to look radiant and feel beautiful in their own skin.” –Iman on the launch of her book “The Beauty of Color”

Born Iman Abdulmajid on July 22, 1955 in Mogadishu, Somalia, she was discovered as a student at the University of Nairobi. In 1976 she received her first modeling assignment for Vogue, and shortly after became one of the most sought-after models in the fashion industry. She stood out due to her deep skin tone and statuesque figure, and designer Yves Saint Laurent even dedicated an entire collection to her, aptly titled “The African Queen.”

"I would go to cosmetics counters and buy two or three foundations and powders, and then go home and mix them before I came up with something suitable for my undertones." –Iman on the make-up available while she was modeling

Iman continued to model until the late ‘80s when she chose to retire. She then decided to turn her attention to a new career path: cosmetics. After years of being asked by make up artists if she had brought her own foundations to mix to match her skin, she decided to start her own line of cosmetics specifically made for ethnic skin tones.

“I didn’t understand that it was if they have 1,000 doors, only 200 are for women of color.” –Iman on the lack of options available for ethnic women

Iman Cosmetics was launched in 1994 at J.C. Penney stores. The brand was aimed at women of all colors, including black, Hispanic, Asian and Native, and was an instant success. After her make up proved to be in demand, Iman started to make plans to bring the brand to other distributors. Some stores such as Walgreens and Target responded negatively, however, and set up displays towards the back of their stores.

“Iman’s makeup line came at a time when women of color were demanding more from makeup companies, so she created a line that has always been about having options for all different shades of skin.” -skincare specialist Monica Sheppard

Despite the corporation’s discouragements, Iman Cosmetics flourished and is currently valued at $25 million. Iman currently resides as CEO and is one of the most respected businesswomen in the industry. All of this because she knew that the colors make up companies considered to be “nude” didn’t suit all skin types, and because she set out to change this for the better.