Irina Sheik
Encyclopedia
Irina Shayk is a Russian model
known for her 2007 through 2011 appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
. She is the cover model for the 2011 issue.
, Russia
. Her late father Valeri was of Tatar origin and her mother is Russian
. Shayk says that she got her unusual looks from her father, and she has said that people often think she is South American. “My father was dark skinned, because he was Tatar. Sometimes Tatars can look Brazilian,” she says. “I get my light eyes from my mother.” Shayk’s mother was a pianist
who was the music teacher in a kindergarten
, and her father was a coal miner. She has one sibling, an older sister named Tatiana. Shayk started playing piano at age six. At age nine she enrolled in a music school and studied there for seven years, both playing the piano and singing in the choir
, as her mother wanted her to study music. Her father died of complications of pneumonia
when she was 14, leaving her family with little money and forcing her mother to work two jobs to provide for the family.
After high school, Shayk studied marketing
but was bored by it and entered a local beauty school with her elder sister. While there, she was noticed by a person from a local modeling agency who was struck by her unusual beauty. She was urged to participate in the "Miss Chelyabinsk 2004" beauty contest
, and she won.
. In 2007 she replaced Ana Beatriz Barros
as the face of Intimissimi
and in the same year debuted in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
. Since that time, she has appeared in every annual edition, attending photoshoots in such places as St. Petersburg, Naples
, Grenada
and Chile
.
After being the image of Intimissimi
for three years (six seasons), Shayk was made the official ambassador for the brand in 2010. Her other modeling contracts include Beach Bunny (2009), and Guess spring/summer 2009. Other work include the Victoria's Secret
catalog, Lacoste and Cesare Paciotti
. Her magazine covers include Annabelle, Bolero, Woman, Jalouse, and Paris Capital.
She signed with modeling agency IMG
on May 2009.
's “Power
”, directed by artist Marco Brambilla
. She was on the cover of Ocean Drive
and GQ South Africa for the August issue. She ranked first in the "50 Hottest Russian Women" list by Complex magazine.
She made a change from swimwear to high fashion with a spread in Spain's Harper’s Bazaar and landed the cover of Elle
Spain for their November 2010 issue. Glamour
Spain awarded her "Best International Model of 2010".. At the end of the year she was pictured nude in the GQ Spain December issue; however, she claimed that she had not stripped for the photoshoot, and that the magazine had digitally altered
the images to remove her lingerie.
On the February 14, 2011 episode of The Late Show with David Letterman, it was revealed via billboard
that Shayk was the covermodel for the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
. This is the fifth time she has been featured in the magazine, but the first time she has been on the cover. She is the first Russian to appear on the cover. Shayk became the face of swim label Luli Fama’s 2011 advertising campaign and look book. Appears in the John John Denim ad campaign.
She currently ranks 10th in the "Top 20 Sexiest Models" list on Models.com.
In 2011 she was voted "Sexiest Woman In The World" in the Hungarian magazine Periodika.
. She and her sister helped rebuild the children’s ward of the local hospital, and now Shayk raises money on behalf of a Russian charity, Pomogi, meaning "Help me" in Russian , which provides care to sick children. Irina is the official ambassador for Pomogi charity in Russia.
), a Lab
who, she claims, was fathered by one of the dogs who played the title role in Marley & Me
.
Since May/Spring of 2010, she has been dating footballer Cristiano Ronaldo
. Shayk and Ronaldo allegedly met through their Armani Exchange campaigns.
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
known for her 2007 through 2011 appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is published annually by Sports Illustrated. It features fashion models wearing swimwear in exotic locales. According to some, the magazine is the arbiter of supermodel succession. In addition, the issue is a media nexus that in 2005 carried in advertising....
. She is the cover model for the 2011 issue.
Early years
Irina Shaykhlislamova was born in YemanzhelinskYemanzhelinsk
Yemanzhelinsk is a town in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located on the eastern slopes of South Urals south of Chelyabinsk, near the border with Kazakhstan. Population:...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. Her late father Valeri was of Tatar origin and her mother is Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
. Shayk says that she got her unusual looks from her father, and she has said that people often think she is South American. “My father was dark skinned, because he was Tatar. Sometimes Tatars can look Brazilian,” she says. “I get my light eyes from my mother.” Shayk’s mother was a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
who was the music teacher in a kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
, and her father was a coal miner. She has one sibling, an older sister named Tatiana. Shayk started playing piano at age six. At age nine she enrolled in a music school and studied there for seven years, both playing the piano and singing in the choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, as her mother wanted her to study music. Her father died of complications of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
when she was 14, leaving her family with little money and forcing her mother to work two jobs to provide for the family.
After high school, Shayk studied marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
but was bored by it and entered a local beauty school with her elder sister. While there, she was noticed by a person from a local modeling agency who was struck by her unusual beauty. She was urged to participate in the "Miss Chelyabinsk 2004" beauty contest
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
, and she won.
Early work
Shayk started her career relatively late for a model, at the age of 19, when she began modeling in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 2007 she replaced Ana Beatriz Barros
Ana Beatriz Barros
Ana Beatriz Barros is a Brazilian model known for her work with Guess?, bebe, Victoria's Secret, Chanel cosmetics, and Jennifer Lopez's JLO fashion line.-Early life and family:...
as the face of Intimissimi
Intimissimi
Intimissimi is an Italian clothing label started in 1996 that specializes in bras, briefs, lingerie, vests, and pyjamas for women and men. Intimissimi clothes are sold throughout the world: Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, United...
and in the same year debuted in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is published annually by Sports Illustrated. It features fashion models wearing swimwear in exotic locales. According to some, the magazine is the arbiter of supermodel succession. In addition, the issue is a media nexus that in 2005 carried in advertising....
. Since that time, she has appeared in every annual edition, attending photoshoots in such places as St. Petersburg, Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
and Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
.
After being the image of Intimissimi
Intimissimi
Intimissimi is an Italian clothing label started in 1996 that specializes in bras, briefs, lingerie, vests, and pyjamas for women and men. Intimissimi clothes are sold throughout the world: Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, United...
for three years (six seasons), Shayk was made the official ambassador for the brand in 2010. Her other modeling contracts include Beach Bunny (2009), and Guess spring/summer 2009. Other work include the Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret
Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
catalog, Lacoste and Cesare Paciotti
Cesare Paciotti
Cesare Paciotti is a shoe designer from Italy. His eponymous company makes luxury shoes and other leather goods, and is famous for its dagger logo.-Biography:...
. Her magazine covers include Annabelle, Bolero, Woman, Jalouse, and Paris Capital.
She signed with modeling agency IMG
IMG Models
IMG Models is one of the major international modeling agencies, currently representing only female models. Its mother office is in New York City, with branches in Paris, London, Milan and Hong Kong. It is a division of New York, NY-based IMG...
on May 2009.
2010-present
Shayk modeled the Armani Exchange spring/summer 2010 campaign. She also starred in Kanye WestKanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's “Power
Power (Kanye West song)
"Power" is a single by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, released as the lead single from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. The song features additional vocals by Dwele and is co-produced by Kanye West and Symbolyc One...
”, directed by artist Marco Brambilla
Marco Brambilla
Marco Brambilla is an Italian-born Canadian artist and filmmaker who works in the United States. Educated at Ryerson University, Toronto, Canada, where he studied film, he first worked in commercials and feature films, directing the successful 1993 science fiction film Demolition Man...
. She was on the cover of Ocean Drive
Ocean Drive (magazine)
Ocean Drive is a magazine that reports on fashion, society, entertainment and celebrities in Miami Beach, Florida, in the United States. The magazine has been referred to as "the Bible of South Beach" due to its coverage of nightlife and VIPs. Suzy Buckley is the Editor in Chief. The magazine's...
and GQ South Africa for the August issue. She ranked first in the "50 Hottest Russian Women" list by Complex magazine.
She made a change from swimwear to high fashion with a spread in Spain's Harper’s Bazaar and landed the cover of Elle
Elle (magazine)
Elle is a worldwide magazine of French origin that focuses on women's fashion, beauty, health, and entertainment. Elle is also the world's largest fashion magazine. It was founded by Pierre Lazareff and his wife Hélène Gordon in 1945. The title, in French, means "she".-History:Elle was founded in...
Spain for their November 2010 issue. Glamour
Glamour (magazine)
Glamour is a women's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications. Founded in 1939 in the United States, it was originally called Glamour of Hollywood....
Spain awarded her "Best International Model of 2010".. At the end of the year she was pictured nude in the GQ Spain December issue; however, she claimed that she had not stripped for the photoshoot, and that the magazine had digitally altered
Image editing
Image editing encompasses the processes of altering images, whether they be digital photographs, traditional analog photographs, or illustrations. Traditional analog image editing is known as photo retouching, using tools such as an airbrush to modify photographs, or editing illustrations with any...
the images to remove her lingerie.
On the February 14, 2011 episode of The Late Show with David Letterman, it was revealed via billboard
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
that Shayk was the covermodel for the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue is published annually by Sports Illustrated. It features fashion models wearing swimwear in exotic locales. According to some, the magazine is the arbiter of supermodel succession. In addition, the issue is a media nexus that in 2005 carried in advertising....
. This is the fifth time she has been featured in the magazine, but the first time she has been on the cover. She is the first Russian to appear on the cover. Shayk became the face of swim label Luli Fama’s 2011 advertising campaign and look book. Appears in the John John Denim ad campaign.
She currently ranks 10th in the "Top 20 Sexiest Models" list on Models.com.
In 2011 she was voted "Sexiest Woman In The World" in the Hungarian magazine Periodika.
Charity
Shayk is helping a maternity hospital in her hometown of YemanzhelinskYemanzhelinsk
Yemanzhelinsk is a town in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, located on the eastern slopes of South Urals south of Chelyabinsk, near the border with Kazakhstan. Population:...
. She and her sister helped rebuild the children’s ward of the local hospital, and now Shayk raises money on behalf of a Russian charity, Pomogi, meaning "Help me" in Russian , which provides care to sick children. Irina is the official ambassador for Pomogi charity in Russia.
Personal life
Shayk has a pet dog named Caesare (named after Julius CaesarJulius Caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
), a Lab
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
who, she claims, was fathered by one of the dogs who played the title role in Marley & Me
Marley & Me
Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog is a New York Times bestselling autobiographical book by journalist John Grogan, published in 2005, about the thirteen years he and his family shared their life, home, and heart with Marley, a possibly neurotic, and certified "untrainable",...
.
Since May/Spring of 2010, she has been dating footballer Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...
. Shayk and Ronaldo allegedly met through their Armani Exchange campaigns.
External links
- Irina Shayk Official Website
- Irina Shayk: Model Life - slideshow by Life magazine