Iman responds to being called a 'survivor' after losing David Bowie and her mother: 'Not as much as you think'

Supermodel says she is 'holding up' after the death of her husband

Iman at the Tom Ford event (Getty Images)

Iman has spoken about the months after losing her husband David Bowie for the first time, telling reporters it has been a “tough year”.

Iman stole the show at designer Tom Ford’s presentation for New York Fashion Week, the first major event she has attended since Bowie’s death in January. The iconic singer died 18 months after being diagnosed with cancer and Iman’s mother Maryan Baadi passed away three months later.

The supermodel arrived at the event wearing a “David” necklace. “I’m wearing this until my death,” she told Good Morning America. When journalist Joe Zee described her as a “survivor”, she responded: “Not as much as you think. It's just been a tough year, but I'm holding up”.

Iman shared a number of images from the evening on her Instagram page, writing: “My first night out attending an event since last year! Beat by @porschefabulous @imancosmetics #steppingout #imancosmetics”.

In the week leading up to Bowie's’ death, her page was transformed into a tribute to his artistry and cultural influence. Her posts over his final seven days became one of the most poignant tributes to Bowie's legacy.

Iman and Bowie had a daughter together, Lexi, in 2000. They often appeared in public as a couple but rarely spoke about their domestic life except to reaffirm their love for each other. In one of Iman’s most famous quotes about their relationship, she told a journalist: “My marriage is exactly as fabulous as you all would think.”