Iman: ‘I Have A Whole Crew Who Help Me Get Ready Every Day’

by Verena von Pfetten | 1:56 pm, November 9th, 2010

There’s nothing like a good supermodel interview to start your lunch hour off right. In the December issue of Harper’s Bazaar, the ever amazing Simon Doonan interviews 55-year-old Iman who, as you might have already suspected, offers up plenty bon mots about her daily routine, on hazing younger models, and why she’s envious of Michelle Obama.

Our favorite part might be how proudly she admits that she pays people to keep her looking good. “Me? I don’t do anything by myself,” she told Doonan. “I have a whole crew to get me ready every day.”

Wouldn’t that be nice! Speaking of nice, we love that while she says she’s never thrown a phone at anyone, she has been known to give younger models a seriously cold shoulder.

I was once very rude to a young model. Just before I retired from modeling, I was at this shoot. The photographer said he was reading a biography of Marie Antoinette. The young model asked us, “What agency is she with?” [Shrieks of derisive laughter] We made fun of her, of course! When we were leaving, she said to me, “I hope I look as good as you when I’m your age,” and I said, “Don’t worry, darling, you won’t.” And then later I felt bad.

At least she feels bad, right? Finally, like most famous people, she loves the Obamas — but admits she’s a little jealous of their parenting skills.

I met Mr. and Mrs. Obama years ago at Oprah’s Legends Ball. Oprah sat me next to Mrs. Obama because I majored in political science before modeling, so she thought we would have something to discuss. And then I went for lunch at the White House. It was brilliant! Mrs. Obama could not have been more gracious or beautiful. She is very smart, and for me, the thing I most envy is her children. When is the last time we saw two girls that age at the inauguration, and their mother did not have to say, “Sit still!”?

So true.

IMAN: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ICON [Harper's Bazaar]

Iman iman harper's bazaar iman interview Simon Doonan