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Lifetime's illuminating
Intimate Portrait series on women leaders and entertainers takes a slight detour to focus on a few real-life mannequins, among them Iman, the stately Somalian supermodel. Using photo clips, fashion footage, and interviews with Iman and friends,
Intimate Portrait: Iman illustrates the colorful and unusual life of this woman. Rocketed to superstardom by Western photographer Peter Beard, who discovered her on the streets of Nairobi where she attended university, her rise to fame was fueled by playfully planted rumors of her alleged roots as a "six-foot-tall goat shepardess who spoke no English." The truth revealed, she could actually speak five languages, including English, and was an educated diplomat's daughter who had studied political philosophy at university. Though only 20 at the time of her 1975 "coming out," Iman's shrewdness, political savvy, and bravery didn't fail her in the new and intimidating world of high fashion. She has worked continuously for more than 20 years, landing the first makeup contract for a woman of color, acting in films, and pursuing humanitarian causes after a cathartic visit back to her war-torn homeland. Iman looks back on her life with pride, but more so with humor, and her friend actress Isabella Rosellini narrates the program with enthusiasm and candor. Also impressive is David Bowie's appearance (his interview caption reads "Iman's Husband"), and his lauding of her accomplishments and goodness seals this uplifting life profile with an (air) kiss.
--Gilia Angell