David Bowie’s Wife Iman Opens Up About Grief And The Reason She Won’t Ever Remarry

May 17, 2023

David Bowie was a leading figure in the music industry with some of the most influential music and iconic performances to this day. Known for his eclectic nature and style and his impressive musical sound, Bowie was a staple in the industry for well over 50 years. As a singer, songwriter and even an actor, Bowie was revolutionary.

Living as a superstar meant much of Bowie's personal life was publicized, though he did try to keep parts of his life private.

Iconic model and philanthropist Iman Abdulmajid was married to Bowie from 1992 until he lost his battle with cancer in 2016. The famous couple spent 26 years of true love together, and the widow has said in the past that she will not remarry in the future. 

Beginnings 

Born David Robert Jones (Jan. 8, 1947), David Bowie grew up in Brixton in South London. He quickly developed an interest in music when he was just a young boy and received plenty of praise for his great performance as a school student. In 1953, he moved around a bit with his family before finally settling in Sundridge Park.

As the years went on, he ended up in America. During his time in America, Bowie formed a character known as Ziggy Stardust, a mesh of the personas of Iggy Pop and Lou Reed and a tribute to "Legendary Stardust Cowboy," to help promote himself as a pop idol. 

In 1972, Bowie completely embraced his Ziggy Stardust persona by dying his hair a reddish-brown color and dressing in costume. He began touring around the United Kingdom and was finally recognized as a real artist, and even acquired an appreciative fanbase.

While Bowie was creating a name for himself, so was Iman Abdulmajid. The beautiful woman was born on July 25, 1955, in Somalia. Her mother gave her the name Iman, which means “faith” in Arabic. 

When it came to education, Iman thrived. In the early 1970s, Iman studied political science at the University of Nairobi. She was discovered by photographer Peter Beard and signed to the modeling agency Wilhelmina. 

Through the 1970s and 1980s, she had a career on runways and in print with fashion magazines such as Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. She started her cosmetics business in 1994. If you are wondering how the two met, they met after their previous relationships came to an end. 

Bowie was married to Mary Angela Barnett, and the couple had one son together named Duncan Jones. The couple divorced in 1980 after a decade of marriage. Iman was married to basketball player Spencer Haywood from 1978 to 1987 and they had one child together. 

Their Personal Love Story

According to an interview with PEOPLE, the two met on a blind date organized by a mutual friend in Los Angeles back in 1990. "David said it was love at first sight," Iman said. "It took me a few months but I got there."

After their first date, she had to model for a runway show in Paris. When she arrived at her hotel room, gardenias filled the space thanks to Bowie. When she returned to L.A., Bowie was there to meet her at the airport. They courted each other, even though Los Angeles was not where she had in mind to live.

"I had never intended to move there," she said. "It's not one of my favorite places. It's so vast but I personally believe now that was my destiny. My destiny was calling me to get there so I could meet David." 

The couple's daughter Alexandria Jones was born in 2000. They moved to New York City where Bowie believed he could “hide in plain sight” in his favorite spots in town and live a “normal” life with her and their daughter. 

Iman said he was more than a musician to her. "I knew him as the man, David Jones, his real name. And not the rock star,” she said. She was drawn to his kindness and their chemistry. She remembers the defining moment when she realized he was the one. 

"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 he's the one," she said. She said he was beyond handsome and full of charisma. 

Remarry Again? 

Bowie died in January 2016 from cancer. Iman, now 67, said she does not want to remarry. Her daughter, Alexandria, now 22, reportedly asked her mother if she would remarry, to which Iman replied:

"I said 'No, I will not.' I still feel married. Someone a few years ago referred to David as my late husband and I said 'No, he's not my late husband. He's my husband.'" 

She added: "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. Through my memory, my love lives." 

Iman opened up about her grief in further interviews. She told Today it took her four years to confront her grief over her husband's death, and it came up amid the throes of the pandemic.  

Processing Her Grief

"I had a daughter who was a teenager when her father passed away, so I was really more concentrated in helping her go through her grief," the supermodel told Today. "But I thought, oh yes, I did go through my grief, but I actually did not."

After going to a "beautiful property" of hers during the lockdowns, at which she hadn't spent time since Bowie had passed, she was "forced to deal with (her grief)" while she was "stuck for the year" at the residence.

"All of a sudden grief knocked on the door and became a companion. And I went through all of it, and now it is the joy that I remember," she said.

Iman revealed she relies on the beautiful memories of her husband to remember the good times and be thankful for the time they spent together.

"I think there are days that are harder than others," she said. "I don’t think it will ever go away, but the acceptance of it, and the remembrance of the joy, rather than saying every memory that, 'Oh, I wish he was here, I wish we could experience this together.' Now I remember the 26 joyful years I had with my husband."

Iman added that the memories of those we love are what "will sustain us after the person passes away." The supermodel released a fragrance called Love Memoir in 2021 in honor of her and Bowie's "eternal love."

In 2023, Iman told Hoda Kotb she always wears a necklace given to her by Bowie that she never takes off. She also discussed how grief comes and goes and "changes to other things," which now allows her to remember the "beautiful things, instead of running away from them."

"‘Oh, it’s so sad he’s not — but wasn’t it great that he was here? And that I was with him.'” 

How much of David Bowie and Iman's love story did you know? If you were in her shoes, could you remarry? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones, too!