quotables

Iman: ‘I Did Feel a Bit Ostracized’

Iman on being one of the first black supermodels: “I did feel a bit ostracized. You suddenly represent a whole race, and that race goes, ‘Well, that person does not represent our ideals of beauty.’ For lack of a better term, it becomes what it was like during slavery. One had the field n— and the house n—. There was this notion that I was chosen by white fashion editors to be better than the rest, which I am not. I did not like being thought of as the house n— whether it was spoken or whether it was understood. It always left a bad taste in my mouth. I call it ‘the politics of beauty’ because fashion can sometimes be an assault on one’s identity.” [Parade]

Iman: ‘I Did Feel a Bit Ostracized’