Who is Irina Shaykhlislamova? The Modeling and entertainment world knows her as Irina Shayk or as
Irina Sheik 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.
[3]
Shayk’ was born on January 6, 1986 in
Yemanzhelinsk,
Russia,
[1] USSR). Her father was a
coal miner and died of
pneumonia complications when she was 14, leaving her family with little money while she was growing up and forcing her mother 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 who, she claims, was fathered by one of the dogs who played the title role in
Marley & Me.
[20]After winning the "Supermodel 2004" Chelyabinsk beauty
pageant,
[4] scout Guia Jikidze recommended Shayk pursue a career as a model. In 2007, Shayk debuted in the
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, 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
[5] In 2007, she also became the face of
Lacoste and LaPerla. Her other modeling contracts include Beach Bunny (2009),
[6] Guess (2008–2009),
[7] and
Armani Exchange (2010).
[8]Her magazine covers include
Woman Spain,
Paris Capital,
Jalouse,
Annabelle, and
Bolero.
[1
She made a change from swimwear to
high fashion with a spread in Spain's
Harper’s Bazaar and landing the cover for
Elle Spain for their November issue.
[14] [15]Glamour Spain gave her the "Best International Model of 2010" award for her work.(
Spanish:
Mejor Modelo Internacional).
[16]At the end of the year she was pictured nude in
GQ Spain December issue; however, she claimed that she had never stripped, and that the magazine had
digitally altered the images to remove her lingerie.
[17]
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.
[20]Irina is the official ambassador for Pomogi charity in Russia.
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