Iman thinks it’s shame models no longer work closely with designers.

The supermodel - who was named as this year’s Fashion Icon at last night’s Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) awards - wishes the beauties of today were able to have more input into what they wear, like she did.

“In my day it was, ‘Do you like that? Would you wear it that way?’  You could be your own person. And nobody walked the same way on the runway. Don’t get me wrong, there are great girls today. But they have lost that role, of collaborating with the designers. There is not that relationship anymore.”

The Somalian-born beauty - who is married to music legend David Bowie - also admitted it was very flattering to be given the award and said she can’t wait for hot young designer Alexander Wang to now dress her: “The award came as a surprise but it does the ego good. I plan to take Alexander up on his offer to dress me now!”

Iman, 55, has had a diverse and wide-ranging fashion career, appearing as a high fashion model to designers including Calvin Klein and Yves Saint Laurent, and in 2007 she launched her own signature make-up line on the Home Shopping Network. She also works for a number of charities including the Children’s Defence Fund and Keep a Child Alive.