Irina Shayk

January 6, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Irina Valeryevna Shaykhlislamova, or Irina Shayk, was born on January 6, 1986, in Yemanzhelinsk, Soviet Union. She is a Russian supermodel and T.V. personality who has industriously worked her way up to establish herself as one of the most well-known models in the world. She was born and grew up in a small rural town in Russia with her older sister, Tatiana. Her mother, Olga Shaykhlislamov, was a kindergarten music teacher, while her father, Valery Shaykhlislamov, was a coal miner. Her father passed away when she was 15, and her mother worked two jobs to support the family.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Irina Valeryevna Shaykhlislamova

Birth date:

January 6, 1986

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Capricorn

Height:

5' 10"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$25 million

Background

Irina Shayk was born on January 6, 1986, to Olga and Valery Shaykhlislamov. She was born and grew up in Yemanzhelinsk, a small town in rural Russia, in a family with limited means. Shayk became a talented piano player and singer from a young age and attended a music school for seven years. Following that, she enrolled for a degree in marketing but dropped out shortly after to attend beauty school with her older sister. It was here that she was discovered by a modeling agency, which asked her to participate in a local beauty contest, Miss Chelyabinsk 2004, which she won.

She decided to relocate to Paris to look for modeling work, but her career took her to New York, where she achieved huge success. Her popularity began to grow and by 2007 she was the face of a brand named Intimissimi, and in the same year, she appeared in a shoot for the swimsuit issue of “Sports Illustrated” magazine. After these developments, her career exploded and she was thrust into the limelight, becoming one of the top models who graced the covers of many different magazines. In 2009, she began working for world-renowned brands, such as Guess, Victoria’s Secret, Burberry, and Versace. Shayk is the official ambassador in Russia for the charity organization, Pomogi.

In 2010, she started to date the famous soccer player, Cristiano Ronaldo, but they split in 2015. In 2012, her popular editorial with “Vanity Fair Italy” became a resounding success. While she had been focusing on modeling up until this point, she was cast in “Hercules” for her debut movie role in the year 2014. The next year, she started dating famous actor Bradley Cooper, and they had a child too. Sadly the couple separated after this. She is into charity and is an ambassador for both the New York City Food Bank and the A.S.P.C.A. We cannot help but envy this beautiful star, though after learning where she came from, we respect her tenacity and drive to succeed!

Career timeline

2004

She Wins a Beauty Contest

She participates in a local beauty contest, which she wins and is crowned Miss Chelyabinsk 2004.

2007

She Endorses a Brand

She becomes the face of the Italian clothing label, Intimissimi, and this turns out to be her big break into the industry.

2010

She Appears on a Magazine Cover

She appears on the cover of “Elle Spain,” which is a highlight of her modeling career.

2013

Her Famous Photoshoot

She is the cover model for "Vogue Spain," where she is photographed by the famed Italian fashion photographer, Giampaolo Sgura.

2014

Her Movie Debut

She is cast in the movie “Hercules.”

Why We Love Irina Shayk

She is into charity
She has been associated with several charities and has helped to raise funds. She has also volunteered at a hospital in her local community. She is an ambassador for both the New York City Food Bank and the A.S.P.C.A.
She is the ambassador for Pomogi
The word ‘Pomogi’ means ‘help’ in Russian, and that is exactly what this organization does. They look to help those in need in impoverished Russian communities.
She helps her hometown
Her giving nature and love of her country never cease to amaze us. She and her sister assisted in the reconstruction of the local hospital's children's ward in Yemanzhelinsk, her hometown in Russia.

5 Surprising Facts

She dated Christiano Ronaldo
One of her longest and most well-known relationships was with the famous Portuguese football star, Ronaldo.
She is a piano player
She is also a talented pianist and was trained for seven years.
She was to study marketing
She had enrolled in a business school to study marketing but instead joined a beauty school with her sister.
She modeled for the Russian team
She was a model for the Russian team in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
She dated Kanye West
She dated the popular rap artist, West, in 2021, just after his split from his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian.

Irina Shayk FAQs

Does Irina have children?

Yes, she has a daughter with her ex-partner, Cooper.

Is Irina married?

Though she has dated a few high-profile names, she is not currently dating anyone nor is she married.

What would Irina have done if she was not a model?

She briefly attended university where she studied marketing, and she also attended beauty school, which is where she was discovered. If she had not been given the opportunity to model, she would have succeeded in the marketing world.