Supermodel Iman, one of the most recognizable faces in the history of the runway, has spoken in detail for the first time about the tattoo she got on her wrist in January of this year. The design appeared exactly ten years after the death of her husband, musician David Bowie, and is borrowed from the cover of his last album, “Blackstar” – a record released just two days before the artist passed away on January 10, 2016, at the age of 69 from liver cancer. However, there’s a secret hidden within this design that even devoted fans might have missed.
A Name Hidden in Stars
At first glance, the pattern looks like an abstract chain of stars and arrows – the very graphic motif that Bowie and his team used for the “Blackstar” artwork. But, as Iman explained in an exclusive conversation, the unusual font on the cover actually spells out the word “Bowie.” “It actually says Bowie in stars,” she said. “For the first couple of years, people were trying to decipher what it meant.” According to her, it is this mystery that gives the tattoo its special depth: it is simultaneously a reference to his music and a personal message, understandable only to those who know the story.
For Iman herself, this design is not so much about grief as it is about preserving a living, joyful memory. “I try to keep in my memory what was joyful,” she explained. “And that’s why I did it on the tenth anniversary.” This approach fits well with modern tattoo culture, where people increasingly choose not flashy but “quiet” symbols – minimalist symbols on the wrist or hand that carry meaning accessible only to the wearer. This is a trend towards intimacy: a tattoo becomes a personal diary, not a public statement.
A Love Story That Became a Legend
Iman and Bowie’s relationship itself is like a movie plot. They met on a blind date in 1990 and immediately felt a mutual attraction. Two years later, Bowie proposed on the banks of the Seine River in Paris, and in June 1992, the couple married at St. James’ Episcopal Church in Italy. In August 2000, they welcomed their daughter, Alexandria Zahra Jones. Their union is still called a rare example of a true partnership between two truly bright individuals, each of whom was an icon in their field.
When Iman first showed the tattoo on Instagram in January, the caption said it all without words: “January 10th. The pain never left… it left a loving, permanent mark in its place.” Ten years later, the mark remains – and so does the love.
Key Dates and Facts
- 1990 – Iman and David Bowie meet on a blind date.
- 1992 – Proposal on the banks of the Seine and wedding in Italy.
- 2000 – Birth of daughter Alexandria Zahra Jones.
- January 10, 2016 – David Bowie dies at the age of 69.
- January 2026 – Iman gets a tattoo with the “Blackstar” album cover font on the 10th anniversary.
Why It Matters for Tattoo Culture
Iman’s case is a clear example of how tattoos are becoming a tool for memory and emotional therapy. In recent years, more and more public figures are using “memorial” tattoos: dates, symbols, graphic fragments associated with departed loved ones. Unlike large portraits, such signs do not scream about mourning – they fix the connection and allow one to carry love with them in everyday life. Experts note that minimalist designs on the wrist and hand are particularly popular as “reminders” because they can be seen every day, but do not necessarily need to be explained to others. This is the main strength of tattoo culture today: it provides a language for what is difficult to express in words – and makes this language personal, quiet, and eternal.