Iman
Being the most famous model out of Africa doesn’t begin to encompass the dreams she has for herself. Running an inclusive global beauty empire—along with empowering young women of color around the world and being a dedicated mother—is the legacy she’s still growing.
Calling her a supermodel doesn’t sum it up. Not even close. As Iman strikes pose after effortless pose during our cover shoot, the room stands in awe of the Somalian stunner—and not just because of her timeless beauty.
The New York City–based icon will step back in front of the camera only on special occasions—this one being the cover of our Summer issue, which commemorates 25 years of the Essence Festival. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as it also happens to be 25 years since she launched her eponymous beauty line, Iman Cosmetics.
A few decades before Fenty Beauty revolutionized the beauty business with its unabashed focus on inclusivity, Iman had already created a company built on a similar mission. She was clearly ahead of her time. “When I came on the scene, I was catering to women of all skin colors,” Iman explains. “Regardless of what hue you are, as long as you are a woman with skin of color, whether you are Asian, Latina or African, I opened that gate. And Fenty knocked the gate out.”
If it wasn’t for him, I would never have done it.
Iman admits that her still thriving brand would have been a dream deferred if not for her husband, the late legendary artist David Bowie, who pushed her to start the business. “He literally did not understand fear,” Iman remembers. “He was in my corner cheering me on every step of the way. If it wasn’t for him, I would never have done it.”
In this moment of candor, Iman also reveals what she misses most about Bowie: “His sense of humor—he made me laugh every day,” she says. “He was a very curious person, so he made all of us very curious about everything in life.”
To read Iman’s full cover story, pick up the July/August 2019 issue of ESSENCE.
Credits:
Photography by Itaysha Jordan Styling by Marielle Bobo
Hair by Vernon Francois for Vernon Francois/The Visionaries
Makeup by Renee Garnes for Iman Cosmetics/Next Artists
Manicure by Ami Vega using PearNova/See Management
Set Design by Marguerite Wade/Walter Schupfer
Teyana Taylor
The singer, who nearly burned down the Internet in Kanye West’s “Fade” video, is no longer here for the pleasure of others. Teyana Taylor is elevating her career, and the sky is the limit.
Maya Angelou once said, “You can’t use up creativity.” Taylor is putting these words to the test. The multihyphenate and entrepreneur not only released her much-adored album K.T.S.E after a four-year delay, but the budding mogul has also launched several ventures, including a nail salon, a fitness program, and an all-female production company.
While Taylor has always been about business since she hit the scene at 15, her grind really increased after the birth of her daughter, Iman Tayla Shumpert Jr., affectionately known as Junie. “Being a mom makes you move differently, think differently and speak differently,” Taylor says. “Once I had Junie, I realized I was living for so much more.”
Being an ambitious boss woman is something Taylor hopes to pass on to 3-year-old Junie. “I’m just teaching her early: ‘You are beautiful, you are smart, you are magic,’ ” she says. Through her relationship with her husband, Taylor is also modeling the power of commitment. “Love is important,” she says.
I don’t want my supporters to feel like we’re untouchable. I don’t want y’all to think we’re Perfect Pattys, because that’s just not real.
But in spite of how cute they are together, Taylor and Shumpert aren’t interested in being anybody’s #RelationshipGoals. “I don’t want my supporters to feel like we’re untouchable,” she explains. “I don’t want y’all to think we’re Perfect Pattys, because that’s just not real.” Taylor and Shumpert do find some enjoyment being a positive example of Black love. “I think sometimes it takes other couples to see like, ‘Damn, they were able to talk and get through it. That’s inspirational.’ ”
To read Taylor’s full cover story, pick up the July/August 2019 issue of ESSENCE.
Credits:
Photography by Itaysha Jordan Styling by Marielle Bobo
Hair by Vernon Francois for Vernon Francois/The Visionaries
Makeup by Christiana Cassell/The Only Agency
Manicure by Whitney Gibson using Essie/TMG-LA
Set Design by John Geary/Celestine Agency
Ciara
She’s answered to a higher calling ever since she discovered that singing and dancing were as natural to her as breathing and walking. Now Ciara is a happily married mom of two, and her life is a testament to the fact that the prayerful survive.
In the three years and handful of months since her first ESSENCE cover story, so much has changed for the 33-year-old Grammy winner. Back in May 2016, when she posed for us with Future Zahir, her son with Atlanta rapper Future, she was gearing up to say “I do” to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. A year later, the Wilson party of three became four with the arrival of a daughter, Sienna Princess (mother and daughter share a middle name).
These changes have been good for Ciara. You can see it in her smile, sense it from her glow and even hear it in her infectious hit “Level Up”—the video garnered more than 178 million YouTube views and sparked an international dance challenge. Her still-unfolding journey is proof that everything “ultimately works itself out if you believe.”
Since then there have been more hits than misses and a messy public split and ensuing custody battle with Future. “My faith has carried me through every challenge and triumph,” she reflects. “When I was younger and wanting things to happen when I wanted them to happen, I could never have imagined that 15 years later I’d be having the time of my life.”
No matter how much success you have, I believe there’s always an opportunity to grow and learn something new.
So what’s the next level for her these days? Ciara laughs at the question, but she’s got an answer. “I’m trying to keep getting better, make health-conscious decisions and be the best mom and wife I can be,” she says. “No matter how much success you have, I believe there’s always an opportunity to grow and learn something new. And I’m keeping my sexy up too.” Duly noted.
To read Ciara’s full cover story, pick up the July/August 2019 issue of ESSENCE on newsstands Friday.
Credits:
Photography by Itaysha Jordan Styling by Marielle Bobo
Hair by César DeLeön Ramirêz for Wildform/Crowd MGMT
Makeup by Yolonda Frederick-Thompson for Glam.Or.Ring/Crowd MGMT
Manicure by Mimi D/Celestine Agency
Set Design by John Geary/Celestine Agency