The supermodel opens up about life after David Bowie's death in this week's issue of PEOPLE
The idea came to her while living at their country house nestled in the mountains in upstate New York. In the first few years after his death, it had been painful to spend much time there. "I just got very sad and would rush back to the city," she says. "I thought I had processed [the loss] but I had not." There, in lockdown, she found a quiet solace amidst his favorite paintings, his ever present books, and the fiery sunsets they both loved.
Yes, she was drawn to the musician for his kindness. "Early on, we were walking down the street and my shoelace came undone and he got on his knees to tie it for me and I thought But there was also their off the charts chemistry. "David was beyond handsome," she says. "He oozed charisma." The two complemented each other in unexpected ways. "If David was not in my life, I don't know if I would have had the courage to start Iman Cosmetics [in 1994]" she says. "I asked him 'What if it fails?' and he said, 'If you don't try, you'll never know if it succeeds.' He was very proud that it was one of the first lines to be very inclusive. Very chuffed, as he would say. Pleasantly happy."Inclusivity was part of who he was.
In turn, she gave him a certain security. "I think David was able to open up more because with us, he felt safe," she says. "And I think his fans saw that he laughed and smiled more." It was a feeling they shared. With him, she says "I felt cherished. Cherished and safe." Now that he's gone, says Iman, "There are days that are harder than others but the memories are not all sad of why the person isn't here. The memories are now of great it was.
"I definitely feel his presence, especially when I look out over the glorious sunsets at our home because David loves sunsets," she says. "So in that way he is ever present."