Iman founded IMAN Cosmetics in 1994 after noticing a lack of suitable foundation shades for women with darker skin tones.
The Somali-born model had already built an international career in fashion by working with photographers such as Peter Beard and designers including Yves Saint Laurent. Her cosmetics company focused on products for women of color, a market that mainstream beauty companies had often underserved.
IMAN Cosmetics became especially known for its broad range of foundation shades and was sold through major retailers. The company helped establish a precedent for celebrity-founded beauty businesses aimed at more inclusive product development.
Iman is sometimes confused with similarly prominent Black models such as Naomi Campbell and Beverly Johnson. Unlike them, her notable business milestone was the creation of a dedicated cosmetics brand in the 1990s.