Iman Opens Up About Why She Waited Years to Start Grieving After David Bowie's Death

Iman is getting candid about the emotional toll of losing her husband and the delicate balance between honoring his memory and moving forward.

More than a decade after music legend David Bowie passed away, his wife Iman is reflecting on how she navigated the grief of losing her husband.

The supermodel shared that during those first few years, she felt she had to set her own emotions aside.

"At the beginning, I had a teenager — my daughter," Iman told People during her appearance at (RED)'s 20th anniversary celebration at Electric Lady Studios in New York City earlier this month.

"I was so busy trying to get her through that, so I didn't pay attention to my own grief." She continued, "So actually, my grief came later."

The Somali-American star went on to explain that while she eventually made space to honor her sadness, she also didn't want to remain trapped in it.

"You come to a point [where] you don't want every time you think about somebody you love who passed away, that it brings you [to] tears," she said. "Because that's what they [wouldn't] want. So, it's trying to keep the memory alive that is joyful, you know?"

Iman now regularly posts tributes honoring both Bowie and their relationship — often timed to significant dates, such as Father's Day or their wedding anniversary. She also frequently uses her Instagram account to share daily affirmations and words of encouragement with her followers.

Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, following a nearly two-year battle with liver cancer.

"Jan. 10, 2016 – David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18-month battle with cancer. While many of you will share in this loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy during their time of grief," a statement on his official Facebook page read at the time.

The couple first met on a blind date in Los Angeles in 1990. Bowie later described it as "love at first sight" for him, while Iman revealed that her own feelings took a bit longer to blossom. "It took me a few months but I got there," she explained.

They married in 1992, first in a private ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland, followed by a second celebration later that year in Florence, Italy. The pair welcomed their daughter, Alexandria "Lexi" Zahra Jones, in August 2000.

Iman also has a daughter from a previous relationship, while Bowie had a son.

In the years since Bowie's death, Iman has often spoken about continuing to feel connected to him. "There are days that are harder than others but the memories are not all sad of why the person isn't here," she said. "The memories are now of how great it was."

The activist has also made clear that she doesn't foresee another marriage in her future. "I still feel married," she said in 2021, referring to Bowie. "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.'"

"I definitely feel his presence, especially when I look out over the glorious sunsets at our home because David loves sunsets," she continued. "So in that way he is ever present."