Irina Shayk , born Irina Shaykhlislamova on January 6, 1986 in Yemanzhelinsk, Russia, USSR is a Russian model known for her 2007 through 2010 appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.Career
After winning the "Supermodel 2004" Chelyabinsk beauty pageant, scout Guia Jikidze recommended Shayk pursue a career as a model. In 2007, Shayk debuted in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, and has appeared in each annual edition since, working with photographers like Pamela Hanson, Steve Erle, Riccardo Tinelli, Rennio Maifredi, and Raphael Mazucco, and shooting in locations such as St. Petersburg, Naples Grenada and Chile.
In 2007, she became the face of lingerie brand Intimissimi, appearing in the company's catalogs and advertisements, as well as a commercial in 2009. In 2010 Irina Shayk was made the official ambassador for Intimissimi brand In 2007, she also became the face of Lacoste and LaPerla. Her other modeling contracts include Beach Bunny (2009),[6] Guess (2008–2009),and Armani Exchange (2010).
Her magazine covers include GQ Spain, Elle Spain, GQ South Africa, Ocean Drive,Woman Spain, Paris Capital, Jalouse, Annabelle, and Bolero.
In 2010, starred in Kanye West's “Power”, directed by artist Marco Brambilla.
She is ranked 18th in the "Top 20 Sexiest Models" list on Models.com and 1st in the "50 Hottest Russian Women" list by Complex magazine.
In 2010, Glamour Spain gave her the "Best International Model of 2010" award (Spanish: Mejor Modelo Internacional).
At the end of the year she was pictured nude in GQ Spain; however, she claimed that she had never stripped, and that the magazine had digitally altered the images to remove her lingerie
Charity
Shayk is helping a maternity hospital in her home town, Yemanzhelinsk. 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 (Russian: Помоги), which provides care to sick children.Irina is the official ambassador for Pomogi charity in Russia.
Personal life
Shayk’s father was a coal miner and died of pneumonia complications when she was 14, so growing up her family didn’t have any money and her mother had to work two jobs. It’s from her father that she got her unusual looks, she says, which often cause people to think she’s 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.” Irina has a pet dog named Cesare, a Lab, whom she claims, was fathered by one of the dogs who played the title role in Marley & Me.
Since 2010, she has been dating footballer Cristiano Ronaldo. Shayk and Ronaldo allegedly met through their Armani Exchange campaigns.[wikipedia]
