In 1975, Iman was recruited as a model by American photographer Peter Beard and relocated to the United States. Her first modeling assignment was for Vogue in 1976. The fashion designer Yves Saint-Laurent said, "My dream woman is Iman". She recalls her experience as a house model for Yves Saint Laurent's African Queen couture collection as the most memorable moment of her modeling career. An occasional actress, Iman played a shapeshifter named Martia in the 1991 film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and appeared in the Oscar-winning film Out of Africa alongside Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. Iman guest-starred in an episode of Bravo's TV show Project Runway, where she wore contestant Daniel Vosovic's dress to a publicity shoot, and a Cycle 5 episode of America's Next Top Model as one of the weekly mentors. Iman is currently the host of Project Runway Canada on the Slice network.

In May 2007 Iman launched her signature line, IMAN Global Chic, on HSN. She is CEO of IMAN Cosmetics, Skincare & Fragrances, a line she launched to market a selection of products towards women of color. Iman is a spokesperson for the Keep A Child Alive program, which provides drugs to HIV/AIDS children and families in Africa and the rest of the developing world. She is signed to 1/One Management in New York City, and Independent Models in London. She also made a guest star appearance in the hit video: Remember The Time by Michael Jackson.

In 1977, Iman married American basketball player Spencer Haywood. Their daughter, Zulekha Haywood, was born in 1978; the couple divorced in February 1987. On April 24, 1992, she married iconic British musician David Bowie. They have one daughter, Alexandria Zahra "Lexi" Jones, born August 15, 2000. Iman is also stepmother to Bowie's son from a previous marriage, Duncan Jones. Both children bear Bowie's legal surname. Iman and her family reside primarily in Manhattan and London.

• Omikron: The Nomad Soul (1999) (VG) (voice) .... Iman 631
• The Deli (1997) .... Avocado Lady
• Exit to Eden (1994) .... Nina Blackstone
• Heart of Darkness (1993) (TV) .... Black Beauty
• "Dream On" (1 episode, 1993)
       - Oral Sex, Lies and Videotape (1993) TV episode
• Dangerous: The Short Films (1993) (V) .... Queen ('Remember The Time' video)
  ... aka Michael Jackson - Dangerous: The Short Films (USA)
• Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) .... Martia
• The Linguini Incident (1991) .... Dali Guest
• House Party 2 (1991) .... Sheila Landreaux
• Lies of the Twins (1991) (TV) .... Cat
• L.A. Story (1991) .... Cynthia
• "227" .... Eartha Kitten (1 episode, 1990)
       - Knock It Off (1990) TV episode .... Eartha Kitten
  
• "In the Heat of the Night" .... Marie Babineaux (2 episodes, 1988)
       - Don't Look Back: Part 1 (1988) TV episode .... Marie Babineaux
       - Don't Look Back: Part 2 (1988) TV episode .... Marie Babineaux
• "Miami Vice" .... Dakotah / ... (2 episodes, 1985-1988)
       - Love at First Sight (1988) TV episode .... Lois Blyth
       - Back in the World (1985) TV episode .... Dakotah
• Surrender (1987) .... Hedy
• No Way Out (1987) .... Nina Beka
• Out of Africa (1985) .... Mariammo
• "The Cosby Show" .... Mrs. Montgomery (1 episode, 1985)
       - Theo and the Joint (1985) TV episode .... Mrs. Montgomery
• Exposed (1983) .... Model
  
• The Human Factor (1979) .... Sarah