Iman graced the Beauty Carnival stage at the 2019 Essence Festival Saturday where she talked legacy. You may think that refers to her career as a fashion model, but the intimate conversation also recalled her journey as a beauty mogul. This year, the multi-hyphenate icon celebrates the 25th Anniversary of her eponymous makeup brand, IMAN Cosmetics, which she says she created to give all women makeup that would make them look beautiful and radiant in the skin they’re in.
“I knew from day one that there wasn’t a lot of makeup for me,” recalls Iman. “I wanted to change the language of beauty. It wasn’t about black women. It was about women with skin of color, which means the whole world.”
Out of her own need for makeup, the model ultimately ended up supplying the needs for women round the world with her global makeup line.
“I wanted to really change the language [that was used to describe ethnic brands]. It’s not an ethnic brand. These are consumers,” she detailed. “Don’t pigeon hold us. Because we have the buying Power.”
When discussing legacy, Iman says she wants her legacy to be IMAN Cosmetics.
“ Whether it’s through IMAN Cosmetics, creating a service for black women, and standing for my daughters and daughters of many, that’s what I want to be remembered for.”