The difference between rearing a child in your 20s and one in your 50s is one of patience.

I'm against a signature look, as that can be very outdating. But having said that, I also know my best qualities, so I'm not going to foolhardily give away my power.

There is no age better than another. The commitment to give of yourself and the knowledge that the time is right are what's important.

It's really not a good idea to forecast or double guess the fates; you will always be fooled.

My mother was an activist; so was my father. They came from a generation of young Somalis who were actively involved in getting independence for Somalia in 1960.

I am so far more secure and more grounded and more know who I am than when I was in my 20s.

My given name was Zahra, which is the 'flower of the desert.' I don't look anything like the flower of the desert. My name was changed by my grandfather to Iman, which means 'have faith.' And it meant to have faith that a daughter would come.

I tell all my younger friends, 'Don't be afraid of change. That is when you truly see what your destiny is.'

When my daughter Zulekha was born, I was at the pinnacle of my working life as a model, and I pulled myself in two trying to cope with being both a mother and a career girl.

I'm lucky in some ways in that I really don't need more than five or so hours of sleep.

The day you settle for less is the day you will get less.

Italian was my first foreign language. I speak it better than English.

When I was in high school,we were, like, 4,000 or 5,000 students, and 50 girls - and I didn't have a date for my prom. My father paid my cousin to take me.

Nobody has ever said to me that I was pretty, 'til I met Peter Beard.

Bowie is just a persona. He's a singer, an entertainer. David Jones is a man I met.

I had never seen 'Vogue.' I didn't read fashion magazines, I read 'Time' and 'Newsweek.'

I wanted a bronzer so I could look like I just came from Ibiza everyday.

I was not considered beautiful at all. Really. And this is what all models say. But I'm still not considered that beautiful in my country. I don't know the beauty ideal where I come from - but it's not me.

I didn't start exercising until the end of my modeling career. When you're young, you eat and drink what you want and stay up all night and still look good.

I would rather Google other people than Google myself.

I vowed to myself when I got married that I would cook every night. I find it very therapeutic.

I am the face of a refugee. I was once a refugee. I was with my family in exile.

Mrs. Obama is not a great beauty. But she is so interesting-looking - so bright. That will always take you farther.

We are very private, so we decided from early on that we will keep the press and editors and everybody out of our house.

I did not want to get involved with a rock star. No way. It is not a sane thing to do.

My father... gave me a positive connection with men because he is a gentleman.

I have a certain manner of speech that is unique to me. I tried once to have my staff tweet for me, and it was a disaster! People knew right away that it wasn't me.

I'm a very political person, and I think things through clearly, even when I was 18 years old.

I started the cosmetics in 1994 after I stopped modeling, out of my frustration as a woman of color not finding what I needed.

People talk about the miracle of birth. No. There's the miracle of conception. I did IVF, but nothing happened. So I began to think of adoption, and then I got pregnant. It was definitely a miracle.

I was never a practicing Muslim. But I do consider myself a Muslim.

When everyone is telling you, 'You're so beautiful, there's nobody like you,' you begin to think it's true. But of course there is nobody like you.

You want a career? Do that first. You don't want to have kids? Then don't. You don't want to get married? Then don't. But once you do something, you've got to know that there is compromise.

We never wore burkas because Somalis had our own culture.

We all have friends and loved ones who say 60's the new 30. No. Sixty's the new 60.

I arrive in New York on October 15, 1975. On my own, by the way.

I've always said if what I'm going to create doesn't look good on everybody, I'm not going to do it.

I don't do anything by myself. I have a whole crew to get me ready every day.

I thought at 46 years old, I've been removed from the fashion industry for 10 years. I couldn't possibly write a model's book. That's for a 20-year-old. But I could say what I want to say without chastising the industry.

I was raised to treat my body as a temple, but even as a little girl, I had a major issue with self-esteem. I thought there was something wrong with the temple.

At the end of the day, a 34B doesn't give you self-esteem.

I don't love eating meat. I really only like chicken and fish.

I was admittedly comfortable with Iman Cosmetics being identified as a beauty brand that filled the gap for black women because it was deeply personal for me.

Multicultural markets are nuanced but not alien.

The people who are the most successful in life are not stopped by fear.