Before being a model

Irina Shayk (sometimes credited as Irina Sheik) was born Irina Shaykhlislamova on January 6, 1986 in Yemanzhelinsk, Russia.

Irina’s mother was a teacher of music in a kindergarten and she wanted her daughter to study music as well. At the age of 9 she entered a music school and studied there for 7 years. She was singing in a choir and playing piano. Irina’s father was a coal miner and he died when Irina was a schoolgirl.

Irina Shayk has an elder sister, Tatiana. Irina’s mother had to work at 2 jobs to provide for the family. It was a very difficult time for the family but mother and daughters were always helping each other. After Irina finished school they moved to a bigger town.

The Russian beauty started studying marketing, but it was pretty boring for her  and by chance (her mother saw an ad on a bus stop) Irina entered the local beauty school with her elder sister. There she got noticed by a person from a local model agency (situated next door to the beauty school) noticed Irina and was struck by her unusual beauty.

Right away Irina was proposed to participate in a beauty contest “miss Chelyabinsk 2004″. It was a total surprise for her when she won the contest and became miss Chelyabinsk. A scout Guia Jikidze (he also found Natalia Vodianova, Eugenia Volodina, Polina Kouklina, Elena Melnik, Olga Sherer and many others) noticed her and told Irina that she should become a model.

Modeling career

Irina Shayk started modeling in Europe, and in 2005 she came to Paris. She started her career relatively late for a model, at the age of 19. It was very difficult for her, as she didn’t speak English at all and everything was new but soon Irina was working in Europe and in USA and felt at ease during the most complicated shootings.
In 2007, the Russian bombshell took over for Brazilian model Ana Beatriz Barros as the face of Intimissimi (a role she had until 2009) and gained international recognition as a “rookie” in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.

Since 2007 she appears every year in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition and shooting in the most beautiful places such as St Petersburg, Naples, Grenada and Chile. Since 2007 Irina’s work has been featured in major ad campaigns for La Perla, Lacoste, Paciotti, Guess, Otto, Germaine de Capuccini, Beach Bunny, Lascana Lingerie and Armani Exchange. She has also worked as a model for the Victoria’s Secret catalog.

She appeared on the magazine covers of Annabelle, Jalouse, Woman, and Bolero.

Personal life

Irina has been linked to drummer Rob Bourdon, from American rockers Linkin Park.

Since may 2010, it’s said that she is Cristiano Ronaldo’s girlfriend

Interesting facts about Irina Shayk

·       Irina Shayk’s born name is Irina Shaykhlislamova
·       Her ethnicity is Caucasian
·       In 2007, she took over for Brazilian model Ana Beatriz Barros as the face of Intimissimi
·       She started modeling career at the age of 19

Irina Shayk Photos

[View with PicLens]

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2 Responses to “Irina Shayk”

1. July 12th, 2010 at 11:37 pm
   Sonia Says:

   I really like this model. She’s very beautiful nand famous now!!

2. July 22nd, 2010 at 3:43 pm
   chris Says:

   very pretty and seems funny and nice. best :)

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