.The_Real_Iman opens up about being a refugee: 'These aren't nameless, faceless people.'
: The Somalian-American supermodel chose to stay behind in New York City, where she announced the latest stage of her historic career on Tuesday. After decades of more straightforward activism and philanthropy, the 64-year-old model and entrepreneur is taking on a new role: the first-ever global advocate of, the leading global organization fighting poverty, particularly through empowering women and girls.
CARE created the position specifically for Iman, and it's not hard to see why. Whereas statistics like the fact that there are currently more than 70 million people displaced worldwide are often difficult to wrap your head around, Iman makes it easy—and, it almost goes without saying, heartbreaking—to understand. That's in large part because the supermodel herself is a refugee, and has been loud and proud about pointing out as much for decades.
As you said, it's a hard issue to speak about, but more and more people have joined you in doing so, likeI’ve been saying this from the beginning. At times when people say I’m African American, I say I feel like I’m an American African. I’m 64 now and have been an American citizen since my twenties, so I’ve lived my adult life here. So I've always been saying it, but I've also always been the one saying it in fashion.
You've also been outspoken about racism and the need for diversity in modeling and fashion throughout your career, too. When I started in 1975, they also paid black models half the amount that they paid the white models. So I asked to be paid exactly the same amount as my counterparts, the Caucasian models. To me, it wasn’t about color; it was about getting paid for a service. And then eight years ago, there was another issue with diversity; Bethann Hardison, Naomi Campbell and I heard how many designers weren't using black models anymore, so we started talking to the designers.
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