Supermodel Iman has marked what would have been her late husband David Bowie's 79th birthday with a poignant social media tribute, a decade after the music icon's passing. The 70-year-old shared a black-and-white photograph of Bowie on Instagram, accompanied by a message expressing her enduring love.
A Family's Heartfelt Tributes
On Thursday, 8 January, Iman posted the image with a caption that read, 'Jan 8th. Happy Heavenly Birthday. Your light burns so bright in all our hearts! We love and miss you.' The couple were married in 1992 and remained together until Bowie's death from liver cancer on 10 January 2016, just two days after his 69th birthday.
Her tribute followed one from their daughter, Lexi Jones (real name Alexandria Zahra Jones). The 25-year-old artist posted a nostalgic childhood photo of herself nestled into her father while holding a birthday cake. She captioned it: 'Da big 79 today. Happy birthday pops, miss ya!'
Lexi Jones's Journey to an Autism Diagnosis
The birthday commemorations arrive just months after Lexi Jones publicly revealed she has been diagnosed with autism. She described the process of seeking answers as a 'long and exhausting journey' that involved spending thousands of dollars on professional help before receiving a formal diagnosis from a specialist.
In a candid Instagram post in August, Lexi explained that she had spent years 'masking' her traits to appear 'normal', a common experience for women and people socialised as female, who are often diagnosed later in life. 'I never really felt like I belonged anywhere, and it ultimately left me exhausted from masking,' she wrote.
She described the diagnosis as providing 'clarity and relief', finally making sense of feelings she had carried quietly her whole life. 'It is not about fitting into a category or chasing a label. It is about being able to see myself clearly for the first time,' Lexi stated, emphasising that the diagnosis does not change who she is but offers language and understanding.
A Legacy of Light and Understanding
The dual tributes from Iman and Lexi Jones highlight the enduring personal legacy of David Bowie, remembered not just as a stellar musician but as a beloved husband and father. While Iman honours the perpetual brightness of his memory, their daughter's openness about her neurodivergence adds a new, deeply personal layer to the family's public narrative.
Lexi's decision to share her story aims to foster visibility and understanding, stating she shared it because 'stories like this deserve to be seen.' As the Bowie family commemorates a milestone birthday in his absence, their messages intertwine remembrance with a powerful advocacy for self-acceptance and mental health awareness.
