Why Iman Says She'll Never Remarry After Husband David Bowie's Death

It's been five years since legendary rock icon David Bowie passed away. At the age of 69, Bowie died after a private battle with cancer in 2016. To Iman, he will always be her husband, not her "late husband." The supermodel explained to PEOPLE that she would never remarry following her 24-year marriage to the musician.

The two had met on a blind date back in 1990. "David said it was love at first sight," the 66-year-old shared. "It took me a few months, but I got there." Iman added that Bowie "properly wooed me," including sending flowers to her hotel room while she was in Paris for a fashion show and meeting her at the airport when she returned. "Early on, we were walking down the street, and my shoelace came undone, and he got on his knees to tie it for me, and I thought he's the one," she said. The chemistry was off the charts right from the start. "David was beyond handsome," she said. "He oozed charisma."

The pair eventually married in Florence, Italy, on June 6, 1992. Speaking with Hello! magazine in 2000, Bowie said, "My attraction to her was immediate and all-encompassing. I couldn't sleep for the excitement of our first date. That she would be my wife, in my head, was a done deal. I'd never gone after anything in my life with such passion in all my life. I just knew she was the one."

Now, years after his death, Iman still calls Bowie, her husband. When their 21-year-old daughter, Alexandria Jones, asked if she would ever get married again, the supermodel assured her that she would not. "I said 'No, I will not,'" the supermodel explained. "I still feel married. Someone a few years ago referred to David as my late husband, and I said, 'No, he's not my late husband. He's my husband.'" Her love for him hasn't changed, and it never will. "I definitely feel his presence, especially when I look out over the glorious sunsets at our home because David loves sunsets. So in that way, he is ever-present. Through my memory, my love lives."

The model also noted that "David was very aware of racial inequality. There is a famous video of him on MTV asking why they're not hiring or showcasing Black musicians. He was very enlightened." She added that she gave him a sense of security, pointing out that "I think David was able to open up more because, with us, he felt safe. And I think his fans saw that he laughed and smiled more." And that feeling was mutual. "I felt cherished. Cherished and safe." Dealing with his loss has not been easy. "There are days that are harder than others, but the memories are not all sad of why the person isn't here. The memories are now of how great it was. Sometimes I have to remind myself that I had 26 years. So I have that to sustain me," she shared.