Who Is Imaan Hammam?

Imaan Hammam stands as one of the most recognizable faces in contemporary fashion, representing a new generation of models who blend extraordinary talent with meaningful advocacy. Born on October 5, 1996, in Amsterdam, Netherlands, she has transformed from a teenager discovered at a train station into an internationally celebrated supermodel whose influence extends far beyond the runway.

Imaan Hammam

Dutch Supermodel & Global Fashion Icon

Full Name	Imaan Hammam
Date of Birth	October 5, 1996
Age	28 years old (as of 2025)
Birthplace	Amsterdam, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Ethnicity	Moroccan-Egyptian (Afro-Arab)
Parents	Mother: Moroccan Father: Egyptian
Religion	Muslim
Height	5’10” (179 cm)
Profession	Fashion Model, Brand Ambassador, Advocate
Years Active	2013 – Present
Discovery	Amsterdam Central Station (2010, age 13) by CODE Management
Runway Debut	Jean Paul Gaultier Couture (2013)
Agency Representation	• DNA Model Management (New York) • VIVA Model Management (Paris, London, Barcelona) • Why Not Model Management (Milan) • CODE Management (Amsterdam)
Major Achievements	• 22 Vogue covers (including 4 American Vogue) • First black-Arab face of Chanel Beauty • Estée Lauder Global Brand Ambassador (2023) • Victoria’s Secret Ambassador (2020) • Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe (2021) • Couturesque Model of the Year (2016) • Bazaar’s Woman of the Year (2020)
Notable Campaigns	Chanel, Versace, Dior, Fendi, Tiffany & Co., Estée Lauder, Calvin Klein, Givenchy, H&M, Revlon
Advocacy Work	• She’s the First Global Ambassador (2019) • Girls’ education advocate • Diversity and inclusion champion • Mental health awareness
Social Media	📱 Instagram: 1.7+ million followers
Industry Recognition	• Models.com “Industry Icons” • Business of Fashion BoF 500

The Roots of a Global Icon

Heritage and Family Background

Imaan Hammam parents come from diverse cultural backgrounds that have profoundly shaped her identity and worldview. Her mother is Moroccan, while her father is Egyptian, giving her a rich multicultural heritage that she embraces with pride. This unique blend of North African roots has become an integral part of her personal narrative and professional identity.

Growing up in Amsterdam, she navigated the complexities of being Afro-Arab and Muslim in Europe, experiences that would later fuel her passion for representation and diversity in the fashion industry. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches (179 cm), she possessed the physical attributes sought after in modeling, but it was her distinctive features and confident presence that would truly set her apart.

Early Life in Amsterdam

The Dutch capital provided the backdrop for her formative years, where she developed the resilience and self-assurance that would serve her throughout her career. She has often spoken about viewing herself as a role model for young girls facing racism or struggling with their appearance, drawing from her own experiences navigating identity and belonging during her youth.

The Discovery That Changed Everything

A Chance Encounter at Central Station

In 2010, at just 13 years old, her life took an unexpected turn. While at Amsterdam’s Central Station, she was approached by an agent from CODE Management, a prestigious modeling agency. This serendipitous moment would mark the beginning of an extraordinary journey in the fashion world.

Building the Foundation

Although discovered young, she took a measured approach to her career. She signed her first contract at age 16, ensuring she had the maturity and support system necessary to navigate the demanding world of high fashion. This thoughtful beginning would prove instrumental in building a sustainable and successful career.

Breaking Into High Fashion

Runway Debut and Early Triumphs

The year 2013 marked her official entry into the elite world of haute couture. She made her runway debut for Jean Paul Gaultier Couture, immediately catching the attention of industry insiders with her commanding presence and natural elegance. That same year, she received the prestigious honor of exclusively opening the Givenchy show, a rare distinction for a newcomer that signaled the industry’s recognition of her exceptional potential.

Drawing Inspiration from Legends

From the outset, she looked to groundbreaking models who had paved the way before her. Raquel Zimmerman, Liya Kebede, Iman, and Naomi Campbell served as her inspirations, each representing excellence, longevity, and the breaking of barriers in an industry that historically lacked diversity.

Rising to Supermodel Status

Vogue’s Favorite Face

Her ascent in the fashion world has been meteoric yet sustained. As of 2024, she has graced the cover of Vogue magazine an impressive 22 times, including four covers of American Vogue. Appearing on the coveted September issue of American Vogue, traditionally reserved for the industry’s biggest names, cemented her status as fashion royalty while she was still establishing herself.

Historic Achievements and Recognition

In April 2016, she won Couturesque Magazine’s Model of the Year, receiving more than half of the public vote—a testament to her popularity both within the industry and among fashion enthusiasts worldwide. Even more significantly, she became the first black-Arab model chosen as the face of Chanel beauty, breaking important ground in an industry still working toward genuine inclusivity.

Her confident walk for the Versace Fall/Winter 2018 show gained widespread recognition, showcasing her ability to embody the bold, glamorous aesthetic that defines high fashion’s most iconic moments. These achievements continued to accumulate, with her being featured on Forbes’ “30 under 30 – Europe – Art and Culture” cover in 2021, acknowledging her influence beyond modeling alone.

Brand Ambassadorships

Major beauty and fashion houses recognized her star power and values alignment. She became a Victoria’s Secret ambassador in 2020, joining during the brand’s evolution toward greater diversity. In 2023, she was named Estée Lauder Global Brand Ambassador, representing one of the world’s most prestigious beauty companies and further solidifying her position at the pinnacle of the modeling industry.

Editorial Excellence

Dominating Fashion Publications

Her editorial work reads like a who’s who of fashion journalism. Beyond her numerous Vogue appearances spanning American, British, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Japanese, Chinese, Arabic, Mexican, and Russian editions, she has appeared in virtually every major fashion publication.

Teen Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Wall Street Journal, i-D Magazine, Elle, Vanity Fair, and Numéro have all featured her on their covers and in editorial spreads. Anna Wintour, the legendary editor of American Vogue, mentioned her in an editor’s letter upon her first appearance—an endorsement that carries enormous weight in the fashion world.

Runway Royalty

Walking for Fashion’s Elite

Her runway portfolio encompasses virtually every major luxury fashion house. She has walked for Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Prada, Versace, Fendi, Valentino, and Hermès, representing the pinnacle of luxury craftsmanship and design. Contemporary designers, including Alexander McQueen, Maison Margiela, Marc Jacobs, and Balenciaga, have also featured her in their shows.

American fashion has equally embraced her talent, with Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Tom Ford casting her in their runway presentations. Additional brands, including Burberry, Proenza Schouler, Dolce & Gabbana, and Jean Paul Gaultier, have all benefited from her ability to bring their creative visions to life.

Campaign Work and Collaborations

Luxury Brand Partnerships

Her campaign work reflects the breadth of her appeal and versatility. Luxury brands including Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Versace, Fendi, Givenchy, and Giorgio Armani have chosen her to represent their products, recognizing her ability to embody sophistication and contemporary elegance.

Beauty and Fashion Campaigns

In the beauty sector, she has worked with Revlon, Shiseido, and Estée Lauder, bringing authenticity and relatability to campaigns promoting cosmetics and skincare. Fashion brands including Calvin Klein, Moschino, Coach, Céline, and DKNY have featured her in their advertising, while retail brands like H&M, Topshop, and Scotch & Soda have leveraged her appeal to reach broader audiences.

Creative Collaborations

In 2020, she partnered with Frame to release a limited edition ready-to-wear collection, demonstrating her growing influence as a creative collaborator rather than simply a model. She also appeared in the JPG Scandal perfume advertising campaign in 2022, continuing her relationship with the Jean Paul Gaultier brand.

Professional Representation

Her career is managed by an international network of premier modeling agencies. DNA Model Management represents her in New York, VIVA Model Management handles her work in Paris, London, and Barcelona, Why Not Model Management manages her Italian bookings, and CODE Management—the agency that discovered her—continues to represent her in Amsterdam.

Industry Recognition

Rankings and Accolades

Models.com, the industry’s definitive ranking platform, currently lists her among their “Industry Icons” and has repeatedly ranked her on their “Top Sexiest Models” lists. In 2020, she was awarded Bazaar’s Woman of the Year, recognition that acknowledged both her professional achievements and her advocacy work. She has also been featured on Business of Fashion’s BoF 500 list, which identifies the people shaping the global fashion industry.

Advocacy and Social Responsibility

Champion for Girls’ Education

In 2019, she became the first global ambassador for She’s the First, an organization dedicated to ensuring girls worldwide receive education. Her commitment to this cause was recognized when she was honored as “Powerhouse of the Year” by the organization in November 2021. She has consistently used her platform to advocate for ensuring every girl is “educated, respected, and heard.”

Speaking Out on Social Issues

She has demonstrated a willingness to address controversial topics, sharing infographics about the Israeli-Palestine conflict in June 2020 to raise awareness among her followers. In December 2021, she volunteered at a food kitchen in New York City to address food insecurity, showing her commitment extends beyond social media advocacy to hands-on involvement.

Mental Health and Self-Acceptance

She openly advocates for mental health awareness and self-acceptance, drawing from her own experiences to connect with young people struggling with similar challenges. Her message of self-love and resilience resonates particularly with those who face discrimination or feel pressured by unrealistic beauty standards.

Impact and Legacy

Opening Doors for Others

She has been passionate about opening doors for more Arabic and African models, recognizing that representation matters profoundly in an industry that shapes global beauty standards. She wants to be a role model for girls struggling with racism or appearance issues, using her visibility to demonstrate that success comes in many forms.

Digital Influence

With over 1.7 million followers on Instagram, she uses her platform to raise awareness on various social issues, from education and women’s rights to political conflicts and food insecurity. Her approach balances fashion content with meaningful advocacy, showing that models can be both aspirational figures and agents of social change.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusivity

She champions diversity and representation in fashion, understanding from personal experience the importance of seeing oneself reflected in media and advertising. Her advocacy promotes inclusivity in an industry historically lacking representation, particularly for women of Middle Eastern and North African descent.

The Hammam Effect

Her journey from Amsterdam’s Central Station to the world’s most prestigious runways represents more than personal success—it symbolizes changing attitudes in fashion toward diversity, authenticity, and social responsibility. She has proven that models can maintain successful careers while staying true to their values and using their platforms for good.

Her multicultural heritage, far from being an obstacle, has become a source of strength and distinctiveness in a market increasingly valuing authenticity over homogeneity. She represents a generation of models who refuse to separate their professional achievements from their personal values and social commitments.

Looking Forward

As she continues her career, her influence shows no signs of diminishing. With major brand ambassadorships, ongoing advocacy work, and a devoted following, she has established herself not just as a successful model but as a cultural figure whose impact extends well beyond fashion.

Her story offers inspiration to young people worldwide, particularly those from underrepresented communities, demonstrating that success requires talent, hard work, and the courage to remain authentic. She has shown that being different is not a disadvantage but a unique advantage in a world hungry for genuine representation and fresh perspectives.

The fashion industry, long criticized for its narrow beauty standards and lack of diversity, has been enriched by her presence and the doors she has helped open for others. Her legacy will likely be measured not just in campaigns booked and covers shot, but in the lives she has inspired and the barriers she has helped break down.

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